2017 NFL Mock Draft: 1st-Round Projections after Week 3
By Tyler Brooke
TE. Alabama. O.J. Howard. 21. player. 28.
Surprisingly, there aren’t too many holes on the Oakland Raiders roster. That means that the team can afford to take a chance on a player with high upside who is also a playmaker.
Derek Carr already has a strong No. 1 option in Amari Cooper with guys like Michael Crabtree and Andre Roberts also making plays. Still, Carr could always use more weapons to throw to, especially at the tight end position.
This year’s class features a pair of intriguing tight ends. Alabama’s O.J. Howard is arguably not as pro-ready as Michigan’s Jake Butt, but he appears to have a significantly higher upside.
Howard has all of the tools you want out of an elite pass-catching tight end. The Alabama prospect has impressive speed with a 6’6”, 242-pound frame that makes him a matchup nightmare for defenses.
The Raiders are close to being one of the best teams in the AFC. Having a potential Pro Bowl tight end to pair with Cooper could take Oakland to the next level.