The Las Vegas Raiders entered the offseason needing to upgrade their weapons offensively. Their pass-catching group took a big hit last season when 2020 first-round pick Henry Ruggs III was released following a fatal drunk driving accident.
Without Ruggs, the team lost their deep threat and a lot of speed from their offense. It was tough to adjust midseason, especially when tight end Darren Waller suffered an injury of his own and was sidelined a few weeks.
Knowing they needed to find an upgrade, the Raiders went right to the top of the market. They acquired star wide receiver, Davante Adams, from the Green Bay Packers in exchange for a first and second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. In addition to the draft capital, the Raiders are paying a hefty price as Adams agreed to a deal that made him the highest-priced wide receiver in NFL history.
Adams agreed to a five-year, $140 million contract. But, he held the title of highest-paid wide receiver for only a few days, as Tyreek Hill topped his with a four-year, $120 million deal from the Miami Dolphins after being traded by the Kansas City Chiefs.
Joining Waller and wide receiver Hunter Renfrow, the Raiders now have a formidable group of pass catchers for Derek Carr to get the ball to. Upon landing with the Raiders, Adams made a funny comment about looking forward to learning from Renfrow.
For many fans, this is something that they will laugh about. When looking at the two players, Renfrow doesn’t look like the prototypical image you would imagine when thinking of NFL receivers. But, he has turned himself into one of the better slot players in the league.
Renfrow is an excellent route runner, capable of working himself open against even the tightest of coverage. It is what helps give him an edge against defenders as he isn’t the biggest or most athletic player on the field. But, he is intelligent and knows how to leverage what he does well against the players who are trying to stop him.
Learning some footwork and route running from Renfrow is something many receivers around the NFL would likely benefit from.
