Meet your newest Raider, TE Nick Kasa

Originally published on SBReport.net on April 27, 2013

The Raiders had a hole at tight end to fill with the departure of Brandon Myers and chose to use their first of four 6th round picks to fill it by taking Nick Kasa out of the University of Colorado.

Kasa looks the part of a tight end with his 6-foot-6, 269-pound frame and is a powerful run blocker, possibly due to his time as a defensive lineman. Kasa was largely a defensive end and defensive tackle but switched to tight end late his junior year.

There's no doubt that his strength is as a blocker and he will need to develop his pass catching availability. Kasa possesses surprising speed for a man of his size, so if he becomes a better catcher he has the potential to be a solid tight end.

Though he only caught 20 receptions his senior year for 340 yards and three touchdowns, he has potential to become much better if he can sharpen his route-running and pass-catching abilities.

When looking back at former Raiders tight end Brandon Myers' scouting report, he lacked the straight-line speed but had the hands. It appears Kasa has the opposite, as he has the straight-line speed but appears to fight the ball when trying to haul it in for the reception. But as they say, "you can't teach speed."

This is another draft pick based on the potential that he can develop his skills with the right coaching.