The Raiders have one of the best tight end rooms in the NFL with Darren Waller, Foster Moreau and now Jacob Hollister. However, you can never have too many tight ends as they are difficult to find in the draft and in free agency.
That’s why it’s not a surprise that the Raiders are doing extensive research on Day 3/UDFA tight ends this offseason. One of the more recent names that has been connected to the Raiders is James Mitchell from Virginia Tech.
According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, the Raiders have used one of their 30 visits on Mitchell ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Virginia Tech TE James Mitchell has made Top 30 visits to the Raiders and Bills, per source. Mitchell was a preseason All-ACC selection before tearing his ACL in September. He’s tracking toward a healthy 2022 season.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) April 14, 2022
Mitchell only played in two games during the 2021 season after tearing his ACL. As a result, he did not work out during the NFL Combine and was unable to participate in his Pro Day.
Still, Mitchell is expected to be drafted early on Day 3 as he is a fantastic blocker and has the receiving upside to be a starting tight end in the NFL. He might even project as an H-back due to his overall athleticism.
If the Raiders want to add another developmental tight end to their roster, Mitchell could be an option sometime in the fourth or fifth round. Keep him on your radar as we get into Day 3 of the draft.
