One of the main points of emphasis for the Las Vegas Raiders going into the 2020 NFL season was shoring up their firepower on the offensive side of the ball.
The arrival of new faces like wide receiver Henry Ruggs III and tight end Jason Witten had made headlines. Meanwhile, the addition of wide receiver Nelson Agholor had largely gone overlooked following a rocky stint with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Agholor’s reputation for drops had already preceded him coming from the Eagles. However, has since established an integral role for himself on offense as the No. 2 option in the passing game for quarterback Derek Carr behind tight end Darren Waller.
Carr credited Agholor for sparking quite a resurgence for himself and taking advantage of the change of scenery, via Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk:
“Sometimes a change of scenery is good for somebody. Sometimes a change of scenery doesn’t mean the player has changed, just means he fits better in that system or he fits better in that scheme or it just works out better for him,” Carr said. “Obviously this is a career year for him. I am so thankful for him. I tell him all the time I love that man so much. I’m so happy for him. He bet on himself, you know? He came here, bet on himself and it’s really worked out for him. I’m happy for him.”
There is certainly plenty of truth to Carr’s comments considering how far Agholor has come since his days in Philadelphia. The impact he has made during the 2020 campaign has left all sides hoping that he will remain in Las Vegas for the long haul.
The Raiders signed Agholor to a one-year, prove-it deal during the offseason in an attempt to secure some depth in their receiving corps. He will now finish the year as the team’s best pickup in free agency with 47 receptions for 839 yards and eight touchdowns going into the season finale.
Agholor’s production has now made him a top priority for Las Vegas once the 2020 campaign draws to a close. Carr’s comments indicate that he is all in on the prospect of having him as a trustworthy option to throw to moving forward.
Head coach Jon Gruden has shared similar praise for Agholor that stemmed from their meeting even before he joined the NFL. It may be difficult for the Raiders to imagine what their receiving corps would look like without him going into next season.