Despite becoming the de facto number-one wide receiver for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2020, Nelson Agholor has moved on to greener pastures.
Everyone knows that Darren Waller is the Raiders’ top receiving option but Agholor carved a nice niche last year. ’15’ was targeted 82 times by quarterback Derek Carr, starting 13 out of 16 regular-season games for Las Vegas. In the process, he came in second in the team’s most important receiving categories.
Agholor came down with eight touchdowns, hauled in 896 receiving yards, and averaged 18.7 yards per reception. He came in behind Waller for touchdowns and yards, while Foster Moreau averaged more yards per reception with 20.0. Keep in mind Moreau had only 20 targets last season, meaning Aghlor was the team’s most explosive receiver.
Rather than give Las Vegas another shot in 2021, Agholor opted to join Bill Belichick’s New England Patriots. An organization that’s going all-in this offseason and retaining quarterback Cam Newton’s services for another season. There’s no doubt Nelly will help the Patriots bounce back in 2021 given his 2020 performance. That’s especially true when considering Agholor outperformed all of the Patriots’ receivers, pairing him with Jakobi Meyers will be interesting.
“Bill, you can’t sign everyone†pic.twitter.com/lG72a09pYj
— PFF (@PFF) March 16, 2021
Related: Miami’s Gregory Rousseau Is Raiders Pick Again In Latest Mock
What does this mean for the Raiders?
Losing Agholor isn’t the end of the world but it’s somewhat puzzling. Unless the Raiders plan on overpaying JuJu Smith-Schuster, the team still doesn’t have a traditional number one receiver. Henry Ruggs III and Bryan Edwards figure to shoulder the load in 2021 the way it’s currently looking. At least with Agholor, the Raiders knew what they were getting in reliability, production, and locker room leadership.
It is somewhat strange that one of the few players that was holding the team accountable won’t return in 2021. Instead, Agholor decided to get paid as the Patriots will be giving him a two-year $26 million deal per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Let’s see what the Silver and Black has in store as far as wide receiver is concerned.
You May Also Like: Can We All Agree Raiders Have Failed In Free Agency Under Gruden?
*Top Photo: Wade Vandervort/Las Vegas Sun