Oakland Raiders possibility for Tyler Eifert

The Cincinnati Bengals have yet to bring back tight end Tyler Eifert and with Free Agency period about to open, could he find a new home in 2018?

The Cincinnati Bengals have said that they would like to bring back veteran tight end Tyler Eifert in 2018 for the right price. With free agency around the corner and teams are now able to talk to unrestricted free agents, Eifert is finding out what his market is elsewhere. The question will be if Eifert will be a starting tight end wherever he lands if it’s not in Cincinnati.

Most of the teams that have rumored to be interested in Eifert already have a veteran tight end through 2018. One of the biggest rumored teams to be interested are the Oakland Raiders. Already having a proven veteran in Jared Cook who led the team last season in receiving yards with 688 doesn’t mean that they wouldn’t like to bring a guy like Eifert in for a more limited role.

Eifert has not played a full season in his five-year career with the Bengals and only played two games in 2017 before being put on injured reserve for the rest of the season. He is spending another offseason in rehab after having surgeries to his back and knee to solve lasting issues. With his inability to stay healthy for a full season his entire career it might make more sense for him to be in a more limited role.

No matter the location, Eifert will likely be signed to a prove it deal either for one year or a 2-3 year deal with a team friendly cut option if he can’t stay healthy. The Raiders whose offense struggles in 2017 could use more weapons. There have also been rumors about the team wanting to get more athletic at the tight end position in free agency and have interested in former Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert.

In his most dominant season in 2015, the young tight end had 13 touchdowns proving unstoppable in the red zone. While Spotrac has Eifert commanding $7.6 million a year on a four-year deal, it seems very unlikely a team would put out that kind of money unless they are desperate and willing to put their cards on Eifert’s health.

Eifert’s best chance at a starting spot would be with the Bengals on a one year prove it deal with incentives if he stays healthy through the entirety of the season. Teams like the Raiders and even rumored New England Patriots are looking for more of a limited role tight end than a starter.

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While tight end Tyler Kroft had a career year hauling in 7 touchdowns in the absence of Eifert, he wasn’t the middle of the field threat that the Bengals needed. Teams were able to put all their eggs in one basket to cover wide receiver A.J. Green without a true threat elsewhere on the Bengals offense. Whether Eifert comes back to Cincinnati seems to be mostly up to Eifert at this point and if he’s willing to play under a one year prove it deal.