Tight end Witten will sign with Cowboys, then retire
The Raiders’ plans going forward in 2021 will not include tight end Jason Witten.
Witten, 38, told ESPN on Tuesday he was retiring this offseason, but not before he signs a one-day contract with the Dallas Cowboys as a ceremonial gesture when the league year starts in March.
The Raiders signed Witten to a one-year contract worth $4 million in 2020 — a princely sum for a backup tight end — but believed it was worth it for a potential Hall of Fame-bound player who would play as a reserve and mentor young talents Darren Waller and Foster Moreau.
A Raiders source confirmed Witten’s retirement plans.
Witten played in 16 games with seven starts for the Raiders, catching 13 passes for 69 yards and two touchdowns — meager numbers based on his career statistics. That brings Witten’s career numbers to 1,228 receptions for 13,046 yards and 74 touchdowns in 17 seasons. He played 16 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys after being a third-round draft pick from Tennessee, taking the 2018 season off to serve as an analyst on “Monday Night Football” replacing Jon Gruden.
Witten ranks second in both receptions and yardage all-time among tight ends to Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez.
Both Waller and Moreau spoke highly of Witten’s influence. Waller caught 107 passes for 1,196 yards and nine touchdowns. Moreau, coming off an ACL tear 10 games into a promising rookie season, caught seven passes for 140 yards and two touchdowns in his
second year.
Although Moreau’s playing time was impacted by Witten’s arrival, he said last month that he benefitted a great deal from the experience. Moreau’s role as a second tight end along with Waller figures to expand in 2021.
“He’s really taught me how to be a professional and how to approach the game as such,” Moreau said. “I wouldn’t take this year back for anything.” SENIOR BOWL SCOUTING >> General manager Mike Mayock and nine scouts are representing the Raiders at the Senior Bowl. Teams are restricted to 10 per organization because of COVID-19 protocols. No Raiders coaches are attending.
Besides analyzing onfield practices and drills, Mayock and the scouting staff will have four hours of interviews per night, during which time they will interview approximately 100 prospects.
With a scaled-back combine and limited access on
pro day workouts, the Senior Bowl provides the best access of the offseason for NFL scouting staffs.
Mayock, in interviews with Raiders.com, the Las Vegas Review-Journal and The Athletic, stressed the need to upgrade a poor defense at all three levels in both the draft and free agency.
COACHING CAROUSEL >> The Raiders still have made no announcements regarding their coaching staff beyond the hiring of Gus Bradley as defensive coordinator. The only coaches on their defensive staff currently listed on their website along with Bradley are defensive line coach Rod Marinelli and defensive line assistant Travis Smith.
Secondary coach Jim O’Neil accepted the job as defensive coordinator at Northwestern and tight ends coach Frank Smith reportedly accepted a job on Brandon Staley’s staff with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Although Smith is moving on, Witten is not expected
to join the Raiders coaching staff in 2021.
Running backs coach Kirby Wilson and senior offensive assistant John Morton will remain on staff. Both had interviews with other teams for offensive coordinator positions: Wilson with the Seattle Seahawks and Morton with the Detroit Lions. RESERVE/FUTURE >> Wide receiver Keelan Doss and linebacker Asmar Bilal have signed reserve/future contracts with binds them to the Raiders through the offseason and training camp barring release.
Doss, the Alameda High product by way of UC Davis, played in one game and had three snaps on offense with no receptions as a practice squad promotion in Week 4 against Buffalo. He played in eight games as a rookie, catching 11 passes for 133 yards.
Bilal spent much of the season on the Chargers’ practice squad under Bradley last season and was activated twice for games.