Yesterday (Aug 28) the Redskins announced that they will release veteran tight end Chris Cooley. Cooley has played his whole career in Washington after being selected in the third round of the 2004 NFL draft. Cooley was very productive during his eight seasons with the Redskins recording 428 receptions for 4,703 yards and making 2 Pro-Bowls but has missed time in recent years due to Injury. However Mike Shanahan noted that health was not the reason Cooley was cut and that he can still be productive elsewhere in the NFL and that it was "tight end competition" that forced the move.The Raiders are a possible suitor for Cooley and Raider-Nation seems very keen on this move. The Raiders are inexperienced at tight end and Gregg Knapp's offense likes to utilise tight ends so it would seem logical to grab Cooley as there will not be a better player at the position than him available.
Unfortunately I do not see this move happening, It seems the perfect addition but for some strange reason I do not think it will happen. Firstly the Raiders declined the opportunity do go after Kellen Winslow Jr. when the Bucs wanted to get rid of him showing that the Raiders are not that desperate for a TE. While Brandon Myers, Richard Gordan and David Ausberry are not top-tier TE's I think they will do the job nicely and have been helped lots this off-season by Knapp and Al Saunders. Furthermore Cooley is not a top-tier TE any more and has clearly lost some talent. Another question mark is if it would make financial sense, Cooley has hired a top agent and will not want to play for a veterans minimum and we all know how tight the Raiders are with cap space. Lastly for some reason I just cannot see Cooley in the Silver and Black and who would we cut? Gordan, Myers and Ausberry are all fairly equal and developmental guys, it would be hard to choose who to loose.
After saying all that, the Raiders will probably go out and get him but I'm sorry Raider Nation, I just don't see this move happening.
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