There’s been no shortage of storylines surrounding the Las Vegas Raiders and their struggles this season. One of the more popular examples involves Davante Adams, who left Sin City with a hole at the wide receiver position. The star receiver requested to be traded from the Silver and Black earlier in the year and is now a member of the New York Jets.
The Raiders now stand as a team that needs to add talent at the wide receiver position. Luckily, the upcoming free agent class is currently slated to have multiple high-profile wideouts.
Heading into this season, Las Vegas seemed to have plenty of pass-catching talent. However, with Adams and his targets now out of the picture, we’re starting to get a good look at the rest of the offense. A few players have stepped up in a big way, such as Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers. Aside from those two, though, it does look like the Raiders will need to add a couple of receivers this offseason.
Without further ado, these three free agents make the most sense for Las Vegas this offseason.
Las Vegas Raiders: Taking a closer look at three free agent wide receivers
Tee Higgins: A True First Option
If the Raiders want to go out and get a true WR1, Higgins is a viable option. Las Vegas already has talented pass catchers in Bowers and Meyers, but Higgins would add a whole new level to the offense.
The Clemson alum can do pretty much everything as a receiver.
Let’s take an honest look at his contract situation with the Cincinnati Bengals. It just doesn’t seem likely that the 25-year-old will return to his team after the ’24 season. Injuries aside (Higgins missed several games), he’s managed to become a contributor again since rejoining the Bengals.
Unfortunately for the Raiders, Higgins will be expensive in free agency, and bidders will be lining up. It’s still worth going after him, however; adding Higgins to Sin City’s offense would make it much easier on the Raiders’ future rookie quarterback, should they decide to add one through the 2025 NFL Draft. If not, his presence will undoubtedly make life easier for Aidan O’Connell as well as any other quarterback who the team may bring in this offseason.
Having Higgins on the field would also open things up for Bowers and Meyers.
Elijah Moore: Getting the Las Vegas Raiders a young WR
Drafted one year after Higgins, Elijah Moore is currently in his fourth NFL season.
Moore was drafted by a New York Jets team that had a quarterback room as mediocre as any. Zach Wilson, Joe Flacco, and Mike White stood as the team’s signal callers. He then was traded to the Cleveland Browns prior to the 2023 season, now having to deal with Deshaun Watson.
The Mississippi alum did have a decent stretch with Flacco, now reunited in Cleveland to end his ’23 campaign, but that’s the only sustained quality quarterback play he’s ever had.
Moore is currently on track to achieve a career year. He’s finished his first three seasons with 538, 446, and 640 receiving yards, respectively. The 24-year-old already has 447 this season and is currently on pace to finish with a career high in that category.
He’s done it all with poor quarterback play, for the most part, and will be a free agent this offseason.
Brock Bowers has been the de facto WR1 in the Raiders’ offense this season. With that in mind, Las Vegas may not see WR1 as a role that needs to be filled next spring. If they don’t, Moore is a player they should target. On top of being young, the Browns wideout has managed to produce despite being in tough situations throughout his career.
DeAndre Hopkins: A Veteran Who Can Still Produce
We all know how outstanding DeAndre Hopkins was with the Houston Texans back in the day, and he’s managed to remain productive since. The veteran wideout topped the 1,000 receiving yard mark for the seventh time in his career with the Titans in 2023.
Hopkins was traded from the Titans to the Kansas City Chiefs after six games this season, and he’s already made a great impact. The 12-year pro has 325 receiving yards and three touchdowns in six games with the Chiefs. Playing with Patrick Mahomes makes it easier to fill up the stat sheet, of course. Still, it’s clear that Hopkins still has something left in the tank.
He’ll be 33 years old next season, so this won’t be a costly investment for the Raiders. At least not in comparison to the other free agent wide receivers listed here. Despite his age, Hopkins is still liable to do damage on the football field. More than that, he’d be able to provide guidance to youngsters like Bowers and Tre Tucker.
*Top Photo: Getty Images
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