With free agency just hours away, it’s time to take a look at our last positional group: wide receiver. If you’ve missed previous posts, we’ve covered the options at:
With receiver, it’s an interesting debate about what to do with free agency. This year’s draft class is loaded at wide receiver — meaning the Las Vegas Raiders could easily land a bona fide No. 1 receiver in the first, or get a second-round value with one of their third round picks on Day 2.
Then again: what if the Raiders could solve their receiver problems before the draft and use their draft capital to upgrade elsewhere? Or, who knows, maybe they do both! If they do explore free agency, here are the options:
Robby Anderson
The first name on this list is no surprise to anyone who has been following the Raiders, as Anderson’s name has been linked to them for the last 12 months. With Anderson, the money spent will be a bet on upside more so than on past production.
If you want to make the pro-Anderson argument, you’d point out the fact that his whole career has spent with the Jets and their disastrous quarterback room. On the flip-side, the anti-Anderson camp would focus on how little production he has had (3,059 yards in four seasons and just 207 receptions).
PFF projects Anderson to sign with the Raiders for $52.5 million over 4 seasons, with $28 million guaranteed. For me, this is a decision based on the overall organizational philosophy. Anderson is not better than whoever the Raiders would grab at pick No. 12 or 19 — but if you could grab Anderson and use those two picks on defensive players, I could be convinced that is the right move.
With Tyrell Williams already back in the fold and Hunter Renfrow penciled in at slot, I don’t think the Raiders would spend this type of cash and a first-round pick — but who knows.
Breshad Perriman
If you’re planning on adding a No. 1 receiver through the draft, then Perriman is the type of guy I would target in free agency. The former first-round pick was on his way to bust-ville until a season with Bruce Arians in Tampa rejuvenated his stock. On his past 90 targets, Perriman has just one drop and at 6’2″, 210 pounds with a 4.25 40-yard-dash time coming out of college, that’s a lethal combination.
Could the flood of receivers in the draft deflate Perriman’s value enough to where the Raiders could get him for $6-7 million a year on a short-term deal? It’s totally possible — and if that’s the case, I’m in.
Nelson Agholor
Unfortunately for Agholor, 2019 will be remembered most for drops and being made fun of on the internet. For the Raiders, that could make him a great candidate for a buy-low deal given the depth available at the position. In 2018, Agholor posted 64 catches for 736 yards — nearly identical numbers to his 2017 stats as well. If the Raiders could get him for $4-5 million, he could be a great fit alongside Renfrow, Williams and whichever No. 1 weapon they add.
