Mychal Rivera Competing For Starting Tight End Job With Raiders

October 27, 2012; Columbia, SC, USA; Tennessee Volunteers tight end Mychal Rivera (81) makes a reception in front of South Carolina Gamecocks linebacker DeVonte Holloman (21) in the second half at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports

To say that the Oakland Raiders starting tight end job is wide open would be an understatement.

With four tight ends on the roster, and no incumbent starter among them, the job is there for the taking.

The Raiders’ starting tight end last season, Brandon Myers, signed with the New York Giants after a solid 2012 campaign. Myers finished the season with 806 yards and four touchdowns on 79 receptions in his first season as a featured tight end.

Oakland will look to a combination of David Ausberry, who has nine career receptions, and 2013 sixth round draft choices Nick Kasa and Mychal Rivera, to replace the production of Myers.

Ausberry hasn’t flashed much during his first couple of years as a tight end and I wouldn’t expect the Raiders to view him as a long-term option.

One of the rookies, Kasa or Rivera, will most likely win the starting tight end job out of camp.

Kasa. 6’6″/269, was selected out of Colorado with the 172nd overall pick. He’s a converted defensive end, that made the switch during his junior season at Colorado.

The former Buffaloes tight end found limited success in the role as a junior, but performed well as a senior, finishing with 391 yards and three touchdowns on 25 receptions. Kasa’s blocking stood out even more than his receiving abilities, which is what made him stand out as a draft prospect.

12 picks the later the Raiders selected Rivera, out of Tennessee, with the 184th overall pick.

Rivera, who originally signed with Oregon out of high school, put together quality junior and senior seasons with the Vols, finishing with 906 yards, six touchdowns and 65 receptions over his last two seasons.

The biggest knock on the 6’3″/244 lb Rivera out of college has been his ability to block and to separate from linebackers.

At least one of those concerns has been somewhat eased during mini-camps and the opening of training camp.

There’s no doubt that Rivera is the better pass catcher of the two rookie tight ends, but his troubles in the blocking aspect of the game could keep him off the field in crucial situations.

If Rivera can prove to be a capable blocker, he should have no problem winning the starting tight end job. Rivera’s athleticism and pass catching abilities make him an intriguing option on a team searching for playmakers.

Even if Rivera happens to win the starting job with the Raiders, I wouldn’t expect too much out of the former Vol in his rookie reason.

However, Rivera did end up in probably the best situation that he could’ve hoped for as a rookie.

This will definitely be one a position battle to keep an eye on and I believe Mychal Rivera has an excellent chance of starting for the Oakland Raiders in week one.

For more on former Vols in the NFL make sure to follow us on Twitter @ZachAFT and @AllforTennessee