Training camp for the Las Vegas Raiders is now less than one month away. Although improvements have been made this offseason there are an equal amount of question marks with one of the biggest being who will lead the offense at quarterback. However, the one throwing the ball for the Silver and Black won’t have to worry about having weapons to throw to since the Raiders have plenty of great receivers on the roster.
Getting to Know The Raiders Receivers
Wide Receiver One and Two
The Raiders wide receiver room is headlined by one the best to play the position in the modern era of the NFL. Davante Adams is everything the Raiders wanted on the field despite a tough first two seasons with the team filled with losing. Not only that, but off the field Adams has shown what a great leader he is to new players like Tre Tucker and Aidan O’Connell. Adams isn’t just an amazing receiver with all of the personal accolades to go along with it, he is a leader who just wants to win with his team and is doing everything in his power to do so by using his talent to the benefit of others.
The second spot on the depth chart was solidified by Jakobi Meyers last season. He finished with 70 receptions, over 800 yards, eight touchdowns receiving, and even thew for a touchdown last season. Meyers was about as dependable as you could ask for standing opposite Adams. Hopefully, the experience he gained with the team last season only makes his next season better no matter who is throwing him the ball since he saw three different quarterbacks last season.
The Rest Of The Wide Receiver Room
One of the best parts about the Raiders receiving room this year is that it mostly stays the same with the addition of standout Michael Gallup. Gallup’s production, consistency, and change of pace will be important in times when Davante Adams moves into the slot and the Raiders need a more physical receiver on the outside that isn’t Meyers or Adams. Not only that but Tre Tucker, a speedster who averaged over 17 yards per reception last season, will be able to be mixed in as a deep threat much more effectively with Gallup in the depth chart since Tucker does great work in the slot taking end-arounds or going deep. Putting another physical receiver on the outside who is the same size as Davante Adams while moving Adams or Tucker into the slot is another wrinkle to what is becoming an intriguing offense.
The rest of the receiving core is made up of players who are going to fight for playtime, the most notable are former Chargers receiver Jaylen Guyten and DJ Turner. Guyton’s impact diminished in his last few seasons on the Chargers, but he could still make an impact as a backup. The same goes for special teamer DJ Turner, he’s a bit like Tre Tucker but hasn’t quite shown his potential. Only training Camp and the pre-season games will be able to flush out which backups have a chance to make an impact on the roster.
Don’t Forget The Tight Ends
Tight ends aren’t wide receivers, but they are receivers who can line up in the slot or outside. Thanks to Raiders first-round pick Brock Bowers, you can’t talk about Raiders receivers without mentioning Bowers. His ability to line up anywhere on the offensive side of the ball means potential for a mismatched receiver in the outside, slot, or even from the backfield. Extra opportunities are also given to stars like Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers if defenses have to worry about Bowers lining up in a position that is meant for a wide receiver normally.
Second-year standout Michael Mayer has unfortunately been pushed aside a bit since the arrival of coveted draft pick Brock Bowers. Mayer started to find his groove late in the season as a reliable blocker and dependable receiver for fellow rookie Aidan O’Connell. Instead of being relegated to being a backup, the Raiders will hopefully be bringing in Mayer along with Bowers in a 12 package to feature both talents of the tight ends. The possibilities on offense with two extra blockers on the field who can also make plays through the air is the type of prospect the Raiders need if they aren’t going to have an elite quarterback on offense.
Speaking of, Aidan O’Connell has the potential to be a good starter in this league, and with Gardner Minshew hot on his heels O’Connell’s second-year leap is going to possibly be the most pivotal of his career. Minshew is eager to prove that he’s not just a backup who can win games and keep your team afloat if the number one guy goes down with the great experiences he’s had. One thing is for sure, the Raiders won’t be able to blame their receiving corps for their quarterback not performing the way they should since O’Connell and Minshew should need some help to shine. The receivers are the best they’ve been since Amari Cooper or even Tim Brown was still on the roster and it’s not even close.
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