According to ESPN insider Adam Caplan, rookie tight end Clive Walford is expected to have a "significant role" in the Raiders offense this upcoming season.
Walford is currently slotted as the number two tight end behind veteran Mychal Rivera. Walford impressed during spring practices by outplaying Rivera.
The Raiders ranked 30th in our schedule-adjusted Passing Net Expected Points metric last season. Rivera ranked outside the top-20, among tight ends with at least 40 targets, with a 0.44 Reception Net Expected Points per target last season, which compares a player's performance to expectation level. We project Rivera to finish the year with 45 receptions, 452 receiving yards, and three receiving touchdowns.
Source: Adam Caplan, Twitter