With free agency under a month away, it’s time to check in on the Raiders’ tight end position to give it a condition of either Strong, Stable, Unstable, Serious, or Critical.
Starter: Michael Mayer
Depth: Zach Gentry, Cole Fotheringham, John Samuel Shenker
Free Agents: Austin Hooper, Jesper Horsted
Mayer didn’t come bursting out the gates as some thought he might as the 35th overall pick in the draft. But around midseason, he started to show some of the skills that were expected of him, before being lost to injury late. The veteran Hooper was the team’s number two tight end. All others played sparingly or not at all.
Condition: Stable
Even if Hooper leaves in free agency, the team is set with Mayer as their starting tight end. He is no sure thing, but expect the Raiders to ride with him for now to see if he can develop. They would simply look to bolster the position with a mid level free agent or mid round draft selection, which shouldn’t be difficult.