Top 30 NFL free agents for 2019

PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 10: Pittsburgh Steelers Running Back Le'Veon Bell (26) runs with the ball during the game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 10, 2017 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pa. (Photo by Mark Alberti/ Icon Sportswire) /

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19. Jared Cook

Cook started the 2018 season with a big game on the late Monday night stage (nine catches for 180 yards against the Los Angeles Rams), and through some ups (four 100-yard games) and downs (nine games with less than 40 yards) he finished with career-highs across the board (68 receptions on 101 targets for 896 yards and six touchdowns) as Oakland’s receiving corp fell apart around him.

Cook, coming off two good years with the Raiders, is now set to become a free agent in March. Jon Gruden surely would like to keep a primary security blanket for quarterback Derek Carr in place, even with an increasing price tag and approaching 32 years old.

Oakland should be looking to add a wide receiver or two this offseason, but Cook has shown himself as a difference maker as he tries to leave his underachiever label behind.

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He’s not going to get much more than a two-year deal in free agency, but teams looking for a field-stretching, potential matchup nightmare tight end stand to have some interest in Cook. With the prospect of a better quarterback than Carr and better/healthier players around him than there were in Oakland this past year, the upside is pretty good.

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