One of the strongest positions in this year’s draft is tight end. There is a real chance that at least three tight ends are drafted in Round 1 and the last time that happened was back in 2017.
But what makes this class so strong is the top-end talent combined with the depth. There are quality options that will be available well into Day 2 of the NFL Draft. So that begs the question; should the Raiders consider drafting a tight end in Round 2?
In a recent article by Lance Zierlein of NFL.com, he wrote about how the tight end position was among the strongest groups in this year’s class. Here is what he had to say about the position:
This is one of the most promising tight end classes I’ve seen in a while. Michael Mayer, Luke Musgrave, Dalton Kincaid and Darnell Washington are the most well-known prospects and each is worthy of going inside the first 40 picks. But there should be starting-caliber players selected a little later on, including Luke Schoonmaker, Tucker Kraft, Sam LaPorta and Brenton Strange.
The Raiders could obviously use another tight end after trading away Darren Waller this offseason, but what player would make the most sense in Round 2?
The best possible fit might be Darnell Washington (Georgia), who shares similar size to Rob Gronkowski. His blocking ability combined with his long speed makes him one of the most intriguing players in the class.
But if the Raiders want more of a pass-catching tight end, Luke Musgrave would make the most sense. He isn’t much of a blocker, but he can stretch the field with his size and speed. Even Dalton Kincaid could be an option now for Las Vegas after suffering a minor back injury this offseason.
Don’t be surprised if the Raiders use their second-round pick on a tight end as there could be several quality options available to them at that spot.