Forget about the salary cap and any negative repercussions for a moment. Allen Robinson II is the perfect wide receiver for the Las Vegas Raiders and especially quarterback Derek Carr.
The Raiders will enter the offseason with a lot of the same questions they faced prior to the 2020 season. How do they maximize the upcoming draft? Which veterans will the team ax to improve their salary cap standing? What deities will need to be prayed to in order to field a competent defense?
And the question that continues to plague the franchise since head coach Gruden arrived and got rid of wide receivers Michael Crabtree and Amari Cooper, how do they solidify the wide receiver position?
Enter Allen Robinson II.
Allen Robinson II would be the best receiver in Derek Carr’s career
Since Gruden arrived and totally overhauled the receiver’s room, Carr has yet to find the magic he held in 2016. Tyrell Williams flashed potential but injury kept him off the field. Hunter Renfrow has great chemistry with ‘DC4’ but his limitations are visible. Henry Ruggs III severely underwhelmed in his rookie campaign, though that may have more to do with Gruden than Ruggs, and while Nelson Agholor dazzled on a one-year prove-it deal, that was only to the tune of 48 catches, 896 yards, and a few costly drops.
Could Agholor return? Sure, but much like all the Raiders’ current pass-catchers, he feels more like a compliment to a true number one option. What better way to solve this issue than by going all-in on the best outside threat Carr will have seen in his career?
While Cooper was easily the most talented receiver to line up for the Raiders since Randy Moss, few could argue ‘4’ was always more in sync with Crabtree.
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Allen Robinson II is a better Michael Crabtree
This is not hyperbole. Remember all the high point grabs? The contested catches? The fades in the corner of the end zone? ‘A-Rob’ provides that in spades. He’s delivered it year after year with mediocre at best quarterbacks. Robinson II just finished a 102 catch 1250 yard campaign with only three drops. Don’t forget he was catching ducks passes from Mitch Trubisky and Nick Foles?
On top of that, he does all this against top defensive backs. Something Crab nor Cooper could accomplish in the Silver and Black.
Can the Raiders afford him?
After living it up in free agency the last few years, the Raiders are not currently swimming in excess cash. However, cutting veterans like the aforementioned Williams, guard Richie Incognito, Gabe Jackson, and/or safety nickel corner Lamarcus Joyner could create a decent chunk of change.
Pro Football Focus predicts Robinson II will fetch a four-year $84 million dollar contract with $52.5 million guaranteed. This would be a bit high even with veteran cuts, but never underestimate Jon Gruden’s itch for more offensive toys.
Adding Allen Robinson II would give the Raiders and Derek Carr a complete outside threat and the best receiver in the AFC West.
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Top Photo: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
