What’s next for Raiders at tight end after Jared Cook joins Saints?

The Raiders traded for arguably the best pass-catcher in football this month, but they lost their best pass-catcher from a year ago.

Jared Cook will be a New Orleans Saint, as Saints coach Sean Payton told reporters at the annual league meeting Tuesday morning, “My understanding is he’s signed. We’re excited to have him.”

Sean Payton on TE Jared Cook: “My understanding is he’s signed (with the Saints). We’re excited to have him."

— Jeff Duncan (@JeffDuncan_) March 26, 2019

NFL Network reported Cook’s new team will pay him handsomely after the soon-to-be 32-year-old posted a career year in 2018 with career bests in catches (68), receiving yards (896) and touchdown catches (six). Cook also led the Raiders with 688 receiving yards in 2017.

He made his first trip to the Pro Bowl this year after 10 seasons in the NFL. He was the only Raider in Orlando (he was invited as an alternate after Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce chose not to go) after finishing a 4-12 season with the Raiders as the team’s best player.

The deal between the #Saints and FA TE Jared Cook will be signed today. It’s a 2-year contract worth $15.5M, including $8M fully guaranteed in Year 1. A big weapon for coach Sean Payton’s offense and a really nice payday for the 32-year-old.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 26, 2019

Raiders coach Jon Gruden said Tuesday it was “sickening” to lose Cook in free agency. Gruden had previously said re-signing Cook was atop the Raiders’ offseason priority list. In the end, the Raiders spent their money elsewhere with the additions of wideout Antonio Brown, tackle Trent Brown, defensive back Lamarcus Joyner and wideout Tyrell Williams, among others.

Gruden said it was “sickening” to lose TE Jared Cook. “Why I don’t like free agency. Darren Waller is going to get the chance of a lifetime. Darren, if you’re listening, ‘Let’s go, brother.’” #Raiders

— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) March 26, 2019

In four games with the Raiders last season Waller flashed reason for optimism, catching six passes for 75 yards, including an impressive 44-yard catch-and-run against the Bengals in Week 15. Waller, 26, signed with the Raiders in late November after spending the first 12 weeks of the season on the Ravens’ practice squad. The Raiders also have Derek Carrier and Lee Smith under contract, but both are more blocking tight ends than pass-catchers.

The Raiders might also target a tight end in this year’s draft. Iowa’s Noah Fant is an option late in the first round, and options in the later rounds include Alabama’s Irv Smith, Texas A&M’s Jace Sternberger, San Jose State’s Josh Oliver and Stanford’s Kaden Smith, among others.