The Raiders have been woefully thin at tight end for some time. Mychal Rivera was enlisted for extensive duty due to injury, skill and necessity with other options flaming out.
The 2013 sixth-round pick isn’t a complete package at this stage, with some blocking liabilities yet to be shored up. There were times last season where he was the only healthy tight end and was forced to play out of his element.
Odds are that won’t happen this year. The Raiders re-loaded at tight end, adding pieces through free agency and the NFL draft. While it’s early yet, last year’s weakness could be this year’s strength.