Wide Receivers
In terms of No. 1 wide receiver targets, the Raiders would be better off addressing that specific need in April. The 2020 draft pool features more than a handful of wideouts who could come off the board in the first round. With pick Nos. 12 or 19, the Silver and Black can find its lead playmaker in the passing attack.
Nonetheless, general manager Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden should add depth at this position during free agency, but they need to stay away from mid-tier players seeking lucrative deals that compare to the top talents. Why pay top dollar for a wideout unless he’s a potential No. 1 option?
According to SNY’s Ralph Vacchiano, Robby Anderson wants more than $10 annually, which would put him in the top 20 in yearly salaries among wide receivers, per Spotrac. He’s a solid No. 2, who’s averaged 49.3 receiving yards per game with a 54.2 percent catch rate in four seasons. At his reported asking price—no thanks. The Raiders could see comparable returns from a rookie at a much cheaper cost.
Top Target: A.J. Green
A.J. Green didn’t play a snap during the 2019 season because of his long recovery from ankle surgery. Keep in mind, he experienced a setback in a push to return in November.
Nonetheless, the Raiders should pounce on Green if the Cincinnati Bengals move forward in their rebuild without him. When healthy, the seven-time Pro Bowler could serve as the No. 1 option in a passing attack. He’s going into his age-32 term, so a three-year deal with a second- or third-year out sounds ideal for an eighth-year veteran.
Assuming quarterback Derek Carr remains under center, he should click with Green right away.
Throughout Carr’s career, he’s played well with possession or big-bodied pass-catchers as his lead target. You can go down a list of players, just think about Davante Adams at Fresno State, Michael Crabtree between the 2015 and 2017 terms, Jared Cook during the 2018 campaign and Darren Waller this past season.
Alternative Option: Rashard Higgins
Rashard Higgins isn’t someone who’s talked about in casual NFL circles, but we need to put more respect on his name. He left Colorado State as the school’s leader in catches (238), receiving yards (3,648) and touchdowns (31).
If given the chance, Higgins has the ability to win one-on-one matchups with strong hands, snatching down contested passes. He improved every year through his first three seasons with the Cleveland Browns, logging season highs in receptions (39), yards (572) and touchdowns (four) during the 2018 term.
Unfortunately for Higgins, once Odell Beckham Jr. arrived in Cleveland last offseason, the talented wideout dropped in the pass-catching pecking order. For most of the 2019 campaign, he was the fourth option behind Beckham, Jarvis Landry and Antonio Callaway (before he was waived). With more opportunities, Higgins can produce in a decent role.