Jared Cook to Reportedly Sign with Oakland Raiders After 1 Year with Packers

It took eight NFL seasons for Jared Cook to make the playoffs. When he got there, he made the catch of his life to send the Green Bay Packers to the NFC Championship Game.

The veteran tight end will look to make a return in 2017 after reportedly agreeing to a deal with the Oakland Raiders, according to ESPN.com's Adam Caplan. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport confirmed Caplan's report.

Rapoport added the two-year deal reportedly is worth $12.2 million and has the first year of money fully guaranteed. 

Caplan tweeted Raiders quarterback Derek Carr played a pivotal role in Cook's decision:

"

Carr watched tape with Cook in AM, spent a lot of time today together in Raiders building. Bonded quickly.

— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) March 16, 2017"

On Friday, Caplan reported Cook turned down more guaranteed money from the Minnesota Vikings to play in Oakland.  

Coming over to Green Bay in 2016 after being released by the Los Angeles Rams, Cook recorded 30 receptions for 377 yards and a touchdown during the regular season.

The 29-year-old stepped up in a big way during Green Bay's playoff run. He posted 18 receptions for 229 yards and two touchdowns in three games, including a six-catch, 103-yard performance in the Packers' NFC divisional round win over the Dallas Cowboys.

Aaron Rodgers found Cook on a 35-yard pass, which saw the tight end impossibly keep his feet in bounds to set up a Mason Crosby field goal. Rodgers and Cook developed a kinship, and Cook said after Green Bay's NFC Championship Game loss to the Atlanta Falcons that this was the best offense he ever played with.

“The receivers around me,” Cook said, per Ryan Wood of PackersNews.com, “the running backs. A lot of people stepped up in big positions, like Ty (Montgomery) this year. Then just being around a different system, the coaches, learning from those guys was huge for my development.”

Rodgers also said Cook needed to be "near the top of the priority list" heading into free agency.

Returning always seemed like the likeliest option, but contract talks broke off and the Packers went in another direction. Veterans Martellus Bennett and Lance Kendricks both signed in Green Bay earlier this month, leaving Cook to explore his options.  

The Raiders, perhaps spurred by Cook's postseason performance, came through with a contract enticing enough to reel him in.