Source: Raiders to Sign Packers Free Agent TE Jared Cook

UPDATE (Thursday at 4pm) -- The Raiders signed Jared Cook, the team announced.

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The Raiders have added another weapon to an already potent offense. They will sign tight end Jared Cook to a contract, a league source said Thursday afternoon.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport was first to report the news. He later reported that Cook's deal is for two years and worth up to $12.2 million. ESPN's Adam Caplan reports his $5 million owed in the first year is fully guaranteed. 

Cook spent last season in Green Bay and split the previous seven between Tennessee and St. Louis. He's known as a receiving tight end, who blocked for the run 25 percent of the time in 2016. He had 30 catches for 377 yards and a touchdown last season, but was limited to 10 games due to an ankle injury. He has exceeded 500 receiving yards four times in his career.

Quarterback Derek Carr pushed hard to bring cook to the East Bay. ESPN's Adam Caplan reported that Carr spent the morning watching film with Cook and significant time with him throughout the day.

Cook, who will turn 30 in early April, rounds out a solid tight end group that features versatility and pass catching ability that should be able to help create production in the middle of the field.

The Raiders have plenty of weapons, with size and speed and solid hands all over the field. Amari Cooper, Michael Crabtree, Seth Roberts and new fleet-footed receiver Cordarrelle Patterson flesh out the receiver corps.

The Raiders are certainly stacked at tight end with Cook in the fold. Lee Smith will come back healthy from a broken ankle and be the team's chief blocking tight end. Clive Walford remains a developmental talent, an athlete who has been slowed by injury and inconsistency in his first two seasons. Gabe Holmes is also coming off injury and could help on offense and special teams.

Mychal Rivera was never expected to return after being phased out of the offense the past two seasons. That also means the Raiders' entire 2013 draft class will play elsewhere next season.

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