Raiders training camp newcomers: Tight ends
From high-profile additions to NFL journeymen, The Bee provides a primer to the new players jockeying for position in training camp. Get to know the new faces at two position groups each day for both the 49ers and Raiders. Rosters are cut to 75 players Sept. 1 and 53 players Sept. 5.
Mychal Rivera had career bests for receiving yards (534) and receptions (58) last season. He may be pushed by rookie Clive Walford for the starting spot.
Former Buffalo Bill Lee Smith gives the team size at the position, but not a receiver to stretch the defense.
Key returners: Mychal Rivera, Brian Leonhardt
The newcomers
Gabe Holmes | 6-foot-5 | 254 pounds
Experience: Rookie (Purdue)
Last year: Caught 17 passes for 178 yards and two touchdowns for the Boilermakers.
The skinny: Injuries have hindered him the past two seasons and could be a concern. When healthy, Holmes has the ability to make difficult catches look easy, according to NFL.com.
Lee Smith | 6-foot-6 | 265 pounds
Experience: Five years (Marshall)
Last year: Had seven catches for 42 yards and a touchdown for the Buffalo Bills.
The skinny: According to NFL.com, he’s capable of finding holes in zone coverage, but does not possess the deep speed needed to threaten a defense vertically. The site also said Smith “is a great blocker who plays angry.”
Clive Walford | 6-foot-4 | 258 pounds
Experience: Rookie (Miami)
Last year: Had a career-high 44 catches for 676 yards and seven touchdowns for the Hurricanes.
The skinny: According to ESPN.com, which sees him as the likely starter, Walford “was terrific in the OTA session and Raiders believe he has a chance to become a top receiving tight end in time.”
This story was originally published August 2, 2015 at 10:00 PM with the headline "Raiders training camp newcomers: Tight ends."