Tennessee Vols: Jaguars Beat Writer Predicts Mychal Rivera Won’t Make Roster

Sep 27, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Oakland Raiders tight end Mychal Rivera (81) during the third quarter against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 27, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Oakland Raiders tight end Mychal Rivera (81) during the third quarter against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Former Tennessee Vols tight end Mychal Rivera is hoping for a fresh start with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Mychal Rivera signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars this off-season after spending the first four years of his career with the Oakland Raiders.

The former Tennessee Vols tight end is a decent pass catcher who, at 26 years old, still offers plenty of upside.

But that might not be enough for Rivera to make Jacksonville’s 53-man roster, at least according to one Jaguars beat writer.

WTLV’s Mike Kaye is predicting Jacksonville will keep three tight ends this season and he doesn’t think Rivera will be one of them.

Kaye has Neal Sterling, who played in 10 games last season and caught 12 passes for 110 yards, making the team over Rivera.

I just don’t see how the Jaguars can cut Rivera. He’s clearly not going to be a star tight end in the NFL, but he’s proved he can be a valuable asset to a franchise.

More from Tenn Truth

In 2014, Rivera caught 58 passes for 534 yards and four touchdowns. That’s pretty decent production for a tight end.

Marcedes Lewis is currently the Jaguars’ top option at tight end. He’s 33 years old and he’s only had two seasons better than Rivera’s 2014 season.

Cutting Rivera would be a mistake, and I don’t think it’s one the Jaguars are likely to make.

Jacksonville didn’t sign Rivera to be a guy on the roster bubble. The former Vol can play and I don’t think he’ll have any problems sticking on the Jaguars’ roster.

He might not be Jacksonville’s tight end of the future, but he can definitely bridge the gap from Lewis to whoever that person ends up being for the Jaguars.