Nelson Agholor Embracing His Role As Veteran In Raiders Wide Receiver Room

Wide receiver Nelson Agholor may not have been the Las Vegas Raiders biggest offseason acquisition. Nevertheless, the addition of the USC product shouldn’t go unnoticed. 

The Raiders selected with receivers Henry Ruggs III and Bryan Edwards in the 2020 NFL Draft. With the hype the rookies are getting, it can be easy to forget they also signed Agholor as a free agent.  Another thing that may make the former Eagles receiver an afterthought is the fact he just caught 39 passes for 363 yards and three touchdowns last season.

Nevertheless, Agholor had 64 catches in 2018 and 62 the year before. Clearly, the veteran has talent, and head coach Jon Gruden will try to find out what went wrong in 2019. Gruden has previously gotten the most out other receivers such as Joey Galloway and Tim Brown. Agholor could be next in line.

Agholor will ’embrace any the role’ the Raiders assign him

This past Wednesday, Agholor talked about his role with the Raiders via the team’s official website. First, he talked about his openness to do what the they ask him to do. If they want him to be a return specialist, he says that he will take up the chance.

It’s something I did in college, I didn’t do much of it in my previous years, but if it’s something that this team needs, I’m embracing any role that comes in my way. I think it also helps me as a football player. The more I touch the ball, the more I can make plays.

Last season, the Raiders used a variety of players to return both kickoffs and punts. This year could be no different, so Agholor may indeed end up becoming a return specialist.

Related: Raiders QB Derek Carr Praises WR Bryan Edwards Ahead Of Training Camp

Agholor chose the Silver and Black for a myriad of reasons

Agholor says he couldn’t ´pass up the opportunity to play for Gruden, who is an expert on working with wide receivers.

Honestly, this is a beautiful opportunity for me to get the chance to play with a guy like coach Gruden who has a background coaching receivers. I chose this opportunity to make myself a better players. There’s no better opportunity to play for a head coach that knows the receiver play and he can articulate ways you can get better.

Whatever his ceiling as a player is, Agholor is willing to put in the work. Regardless of how big his role with the team will be, he’s the kind of player the Raiders have looked for. Ever since general manager Mike Mayock joined the team, he’s emphasized character. Agholor seems to have plenty of it and drive too.

A lot of things have happened in the past were some really good things, things I wanted to grow from. I told myself this opportunity two percent better than the players I was in my previous five years. First opportunity is committing to being here with coach Gruden who I think is a very brilliant mind, and like I said earlier, he knows the wide receiver play, and working with Edgar Bennett, the wide receiver coach. Working with Derek Carr. He’s a very unique quarterback. He does a good job articulating things that he sees, he likes in your game and ways you can help him target you better.

The veteran wide receiver is here to help

Despite the fact Agholor is 27, he is one of the “elders” in the Raiders wide receiver room along with Tyrell Williams. He thinks that the age gap isn’t that big and has no problems connecting with his younger peers.

Being older is kind of cool because I’m actually really young. I can still relate a lot, but I play a lot of football so I bring experience. If a guy goes to a certain situation I can relate to going through that situation whether it’s not recalling a coverage right away because of lack of reps or things like that. I can tell them it’s ok, it happens, some things go in the fly. You gotta be able to just react and go to second nature at times.

Agholor must’ve gone through those things he talks about. It’s easy for young players to be overwhelmed by the complexity of the pro game. Now in a better position, the veteran is willing to help his teammates avoid similar roadblocks.

Ruggs and Williams will lead the Raiders wide receiver corps. However, Agholor will still play an important role, even it it means taking a step back from the starting lineup.

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