Clive Walford

Oakland had high hopes for Walford after selecting him 68th overall in the 2015 draft, but injuries derailed the 26-year-old tight end's career, leading to his release this offseason. New York claimed Walford off waivers and let 2017 starter Austin Seferian-Jenkins walk in free agency, creating a golden opportunity for the Miami (Fl) product to resurrect his career. Walford's two main competitors for the starting job - Chris Herndon and Jordan Leggett - have zero combined games of NFL experience, so don't be surprised to see Walford earn significant snaps if healthy.

Originally expected to be the long-term answer at tight end for the Raiders, Walford has failed to live up to the hype throughout his first two years in the league. The 25-year-old saw just 52 targets in 15 games during his sophomore campaign, reeling in 33 catches for 359 yards and three touchdowns, while his fantasy value was limited to deeper leagues. Walford appeared in line for another chance at the starting job in 2017 when Mychal Rivera departed in free agency, but the Raiders signed Jared Cook to provide veteran stability at the position. With Cook now in the picture, Walford's fantasy forecast in Oakland doesn't look too promising.

A third-round pick last year, Walford overcame a preseason knee injury to work himself into a timeshare with Mychal Rivera. Nearly all of Walford's production came after the Week 6 bye, but he finished with similar stats as Rivera. Those didn't amount to much, though, as splitting 96 targets almost evenly left neither with much fantasy value. Walford (6-4, 251) has a size advantage on Rivera (6-3, 245), and he's a little faster - 4.79 vs. 4.81 in the 40. He's also more athletic and explosive in the open field, posting higher YPC and YPT rates than Rivera, and is a better blocker, giving him a shot at being a three-down player. Walford is the future at TE for the Raiders, but until Rivera moves on, he'll continue sharing targets. Walford injured his knee in an ATV accident in the offseason but is expected to be ready for training camp.

Walford was the second tight end off the board in the 2015 draft, going to the Raiders with the fourth selection of the third round, 13 picks after the Ravens took Maxx Williams. While he may not have the elite athleticism of many of today’s hybrid tight ends, Walford has the size (6-foot-4), blocking ability and hands -- he led the Miami Hurricanes last year with 44 receptions -- to make a significant impact at the NFL level in time. He may already be a more well-rounded tight end option than incumbent starter Mychal Rivera, but Walford will likely have to outperform Rivera by a sizeable margin in training camp to claim the No. 1 job to start the year after Rivera emerged as one of quarterback Derek Carr’s favorite checkdown options late last season.