Oakland Raiders: Top three breakout player candidates
The Oakland Raiders won 12 games in 2016 and nearly the AFC West. Their talented roster will continue to improve. Here are three breakout player picks…
3. Clive Walford, Tight End
Among the Oakland Raiders’ talented offensive group last year, I think Clive Walford has probably been the most under-appreciated by the national media. Of course, Walford has yet to become a household name as a receiver (though he’s done well in that regard), but his contributions have not gone unnoticed certainly by the Raiders and fellow AFC West opponents.
Walford leads my list of the top three Raiders players to have a ‘breakout’ season in 2017. What do I mean by that?
Simply put, I think Walford is going to take his production to the next level, and provide Oakland with a pass catching threat at the tight end position that makes the addition of Jared Cook seem superfluous.
Among the four tight ends that played for the Raiders last season, Walford saw the most on-field action, even as a pass blocker, where he excelled.
The @Raiders didn't ask TE Clive Walford to stay in and pass protect too often, but when they did... pic.twitter.com/A3a5SKr3V5
— PFF (@PFF) June 8, 2017
That kind of production doing the dirty work should undoubtedly earn Walford more opportunities as a pass catcher, and certainly more trust from quarterback Derek Carr.
Coming out of Miami in 2015, Walford was a steal for the Raiders as a third round pick. I think he’ll take a major leap in 2017 and prove that the rest of the league made a mistake passing on him.