The Las Vegas Raiders got off to a busy start this week as they once again revisited the New England Patriots’ “pipeline.” Another interesting tidbit was that a longtime Raiders fan could be coming home; we’re referring to All-Pro cornerback Marcus Peters.
It’s been an interesting offseason in terms of the wide receiver position for the Raiders. Last year, the corps was far from deficient. In fact, it was one of the team’s strong points. Even so, general manager Dave Ziegler has gone out of his way to completely revamp the group. Jakobi Meyers, Phillip Dorsett, and Tre Tucker have already joined the rank and file; meanwhile, Hunter Renfrow’s future remains in doubt. Well, the Raiders opted to add Kristian Wilkerson, another former Patriot, to the mix on Monday.
Who is Raiders WR Kristian Wilkerson?
Wilkerson has played the last three seasons with the Patriots; clearly, he’s familiar with head coach Josh McDaniels and several of his new Raiders teammates. Since coming into the NFL in 2020 (originally picked up as a UDFA by the Tennessee Titans), Wilkerson has just one start under his belt. Obviously, Wilkerson doesn’t project to be more than a training camp body at this point. The receiver’s room is severely crowded at the moment; you have to wonder what a player with just four career receptions can really offer other than that.
Marcus Peters finally in the Silver and Black?
Much like his mentor and former Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch, Peters too grew up as an Oakland Raiders fan. While his name has always resonated with Raider Nation, Peters has been unable to call the Raiders his team. Well, maybe that could change soon. On Monday, as reported by The Athletic’s Vic Tafur, Peters visited Ziegler and the Raiders.
NFL Free Agent visits today:
Marcus Peters – Raiders
Kwon Alexander – Steelers pic.twitter.com/Bc3DLT0oPj— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) May 15, 2023
Judging from decisions made over the course of the offseason, rebuilding the defense through a youth movement is the goal. At the same time, you need proven veteran leadership and experience to bridge the gap. You could certainly argue that Peters isn’t the same player he was two or three years ago, but he’s far from being washed. He’d certainly be an improvement over some of the recent free agent signings of the last couple of years.
What are your thoughts, Raider Nation?
*Top Photo: Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal
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