Veteran NFL free agent wide receiver will reportedly be visiting the Oakland Raiders on Tuesday, rather than the New Orleans Saints as it had previously been reported.
Vic Tafur of The Athletic has the scoop.
The Athletic has learned that WR Eric Decker is coming in for a visit with #Raiders today
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) March 20, 2018
This is an…interesting development?
After all, the Raiders recently signed soon-to-be 33-year-old receiver Jordy Nelson, whose best days are behind him. In a corresponding roster move, they released Michael Crabtree, who was set to earn roughly the same amount of money over the two-year period of time Nelson signed for.
Adding a washed-up Eric Decker to the equation doesn’t seem like it would necessarily help the Raiders all that much. He’s coming off a season in Tennessee in which he caught 54 passes for 563 yards and just one touchdown and clearly wasn’t able to separate easily from defenders. So, essentially, he’s another possession receiver who would end up taking reps from younger, potentially more explosive weapons if he signs.
However, Jon Gruden has made a point of adding some less than dynamic players this offseason.
#Raiders have signed:
29yo RB Doug Martin (avgd 2.9 YPC last 2 years)
33yo WR Jordy Nelson (avgd career-worst 9.1 yards/catch last yr)
FB Keith Smith
Blocking TE Lee Smith
32yo QB Josh Johnson (Jon Gruden drafted in 2008)
2-down NT Justin Ellis
Run-stopper ILB Tahir Whitehead— Evan Silva (@evansilva) March 19, 2018
Objectively it’s hard to look at the group of free agents he’s added so far and be optimistic about the team’s 2018 campaign. Adding Decker wouldn’t seem to change that narrative in the least.