The Raiders ended the 2019 season with a glaring need at wide receiver. The Antonio Brown debacle ended up being a disaster and quite possibly ruined what might’ve been a special year. As free agency looms, general manager Mike Mayock and head coach Jon Gruden will be looking to retool the receiver corps.
While it’s entirely possible that Raiders brass adds reinforcements through the draft in April, there’s plenty of veteran options at wide receiver that could pay dividends alongside youth with potential.
Potential WR Free Agents Raiders Should Look At
Emmanuel Sanders
Currently with the 49ers, Sanders could be the veteran wideout the Raiders desperately need. In nine starts with his current team, he has hauled in 36 receptions, totaling 502 yards and three touchdowns. Career wise, Sanders is a two time Pro Browler with 42 total touchdowns and 7,893 receiving yards. At 32, he should still have plenty left in the tank barring major injury.
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Randall Cobb
The former Green Bay Packer and current Dallas Cowboy could certainly provide a boost to this receiver corps. The former Pro Bowler hauled in 828 receiving yards off of 55 receptions in his sole season in Dallas. Quick note, Cobb had his highest career average per reception at 15.1 yards last year.
Devin Funchess
Funchess is arguably the receiver with the most upside due to his age (25). However, his health is a concern. Other than one game, he missed all of 2019 due to a shoulder injury. While he hasn’t broken the 1,000 yard receiving mark yet, he has the talent to do so. His 21 touchdowns in his previous four years prior to his injury are indicative of that.
Larry Fitzgerald To The Raiders?
Ok this one might be a pipe dream because I can’t imagine Fitzgerald in another uniform. Yet, as Raider Nation knows they once said the same thing about Jerry Rice. Strictly as a fan, I’d be dissapointed to see him in another uniform but the NFL is a business and if the Raiders can make it happen, it could be huge.
The multiple time Pro Browler and future Hall of Famer would be an upgrade over anything the Raiders picked up this past offseason. At age 36, he hauled in four touchdowns, 804 receiving yards off of 75 receptions.
Just picture it, Fitzgerald alongside Hunter Renfrow and potentially a first round pick at wide receiver. It could be special and might give Derek Carr a solid receivers group, assuming he’s still the starter.
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