Veteran tight end Lee Smith is re-signing with the Raiders, a source tells Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). Terms of the deal are not yet known. It’s a three-year deal for Smith, reports Scott Bair of NBC Sports Bay Area.
Smith, our No. 11 ranked tight end, doesn’t have gaudy stat lines on his resume, but he is a solid blocker. Back in February, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com cautioned that he could make more than expected.
The Raiders should now be set at tight end for the 2018 campaign, as they had already signed free agent Derek Carrier on Tuesday. Smith and Carrier will join starter Jared Cook to give Oakland a diverse group at the tight end position.
Smith, 30, has never been an offensive force, as his career-high in season receptions sits at 12. However, he will essentially act as a sixth offensive lineman when on the field, as Pro Football Focus ranked him as the 13th-best pass-blocking tight end in the league.
Great, so far you have signed 2 TE’s when it wasn’t exactly an area of need. DEFENSE REGGIE, DEFENSE