Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Hunter Renfrow had a tough 2022 season. After recording his first 1,000-yard campaign during the 2021 season, he signed a two-year contract extension worth $32 million. It was a modest number, but the Raiders could already look to be getting out from under it this offseason.
As Jeremy Fowler of ESPN put it, the regime of general manager Dave Ziegler and head coach Josh McDaniels are big on culture fits. That could lead to the roster getting shaken up this offseason and Hunter Renfrow was mentioned as a possible trade candidate.
Hunter Renfrow played in only 10 games last season, catching 36 passes for 330 yards and two touchdowns. That was a far cry from the 103-1,038-9 season he had in 2021 as Derek Carr’s go-to receiver because of injuries to the other skill position players.
With Davante Adams in the fold, no one expected Hunter Renfrow to replicate that level of success. But, the steep decline in performance seems to be enough that he could be on the move this offseason.
Despite the lack of production in 2022, there should still be a market for the talented slot receiver. His cap hit is at a manageable number and it likely won’t require a ton of compensation to acquire him.
One team that could be a good fit for Hunter Renfrow is the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings have a star in Justin Jefferson at the wide receiver position, but beyond him, things are certainly unsettled.
Given the Raiders’ willingness to move him, an early Day 3 pick should be enough to get a deal done. Minnesota has a lot of moving draft capital this season but can offer the fourth or fifth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft that they own.
The future of Adam Thielen is up in the air as he has a cap hit of nearly $20 million for 2023. Going on 33 and without a 1,000-yard season since 2018, it would not surprise anyone if the Vikings opted to move on this offseason.
Hunter Renfrow could slide right into his position in the offense as a steady possession receiver working the middle of the field as the slot receiver. He would cost significantly less than Thielen, which is very important when attempting to navigate the salary cap in the NFL.
