Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock took a leap of faith on Darren Waller after letting walk tight end Jared Cook, a player who built tremendous rapport with quarterback Derek Carr and had the statistics to prove it, and it paid off handsomely. The then-26-year-old’s rise to Raiders prominence helped continue the tight end position as
Position Perspective: Raiders tight ends
Witten feels like a Jordy Nelson type pick up. Also, I thought that the culture changed when Mack and Carr with Jack Del Rio joined the team and then again when Gruden gutted the team to rebuild it (again). If the powers that be are still looking to change the culture, that tells me that there are no leaders who are the type to keep and maintain that culture on the team.
Tight end is one area where the team seems to be set for a little bit. Although, with Gruden, he seems to offload players without having a replacement thereby creating a hole in the roster unnecessarily.
Love our TE group from last year. Darren Waller is such an inspirational guy off the field as well as excellent on it. Great pick up by Gruden.
Moreau, outstanding pick by Mayock & Gruden. All the skills for the position and a real leader and team player.
Carrier, a dangerous receiver to spell Waller but I wonder if he might be up for trade, given the FA moves. Not saying I want to see him go but he should have value vs a shallow draft class and might give us a bit more capital in the middle to late rounds – a 4 or 5?
I like the idea of Witten’s leadership in the locker room and am going to reserve judgement, having leaped in wrongly to criticise the Incognito pick last year.
Glad to hear from Mayock on Moreau’s recovery the other day and Witten (and maybe Butler, if we trade Carrier) should be able to pick up the slack until Foster gets back.
Not expecting any TE activity in the draft!!
Witten was an unnecessary pickup, unless Raiders feel Moreau’s injury will take time.
It would not surprise me if Moreau starts the season on the PUP list.