The Las Vegas Raiders inserted a bunch of coins into the human slot machine, and they’re not getting much in return on the field. On top of that, the front office may not be able to sell it for much before the NFL trade deadline. The Raiders have mishandled Hunter Renfrow’s contract situation.
For the 2021 season, Renfrow caught 103 passes for 1,038 yards and nine touchdowns as the primary target in the Raiders’ passing attack. After the team parted ways with wideout Henry Ruggs III, who was involved in a drinking and driving accident that killed Tina Tintor and her dog, and while tight end Darren Waller battled injuries, Renfrow filled a massive void in the passing offense and helped lead Las Vegas to a playoff appearance.
Even with the changes in the front office and coaching staff during the 2022 offseason, the Raiders signed Renfrow to a new contract, but they botched their renewed investment in him.
Where did it all go wrong?
We’ll go through Renfrow’s timeline with the team from June 2022—when he signed an extension—to the present and forecast what could happen within the next two weeks.
Las Vegas Raiders sign Hunter Renfrow to an extension
Three years into his rookie deal, third-and-Renfrow blossomed into a reliable playmaker. The 2019 fifth-round pick proved that he could step into a bigger role if needed and earned a two-year, $32 million extension.
At the time, most people thought the Raiders made a solid investment with head coach Josh McDaniels’ history of featuring slot wide receivers in his New England Patriots offenses.
In the same offseason, Vegas acquired star wideout Davante Adams, who constantly draws enough attention in coverage to open up the field for his pass-catching teammates. Renfrow also had a strong rapport with former Raiders quarterback Derek Carr.
Unfortunately for Renfrow, he couldn’t shake the injury bug in 2022. Hemissed seven games because of a concussion and an oblique injury. He also played through a hip injury.
- Hunter Renfrow stats (2022): 36 receptions, 330 yards, 2 TD
In the NFL, players deal with injuries as part of what comes with playing a contact sport, so no one is at fault for Renfrow’s inability to stay on the field. Perhaps the 5-foot-10, 185-pound wideout needed to bulk up to withstand the physical demand of his role, but he never had the chance to prove his durability.
Related: Star players on the NFL trade block
Raiders add wide receivers Jakobi Meyers, DeAndre Carter and Tre Tucker
This past offseason, the Raiders essentially signaled that Renfrow would see a reduced workload for the 2023 campaign.
Vegas signed Jakobi Meyers to a three-year, $33 million deal ($21 million guaranteed), which indicated that he would take on a sizable role in the aerial attack. Because of his familiarity with McDaniels’ offense, the versatile wideout had a clear shot to become the No. 2 pass-catching option behind Adams.
In terms of total contract value, Meyers’ deal ranks 26th among wideouts and 27th in terms of guaranteed money, per Spotrac. The Raiders paid him as if he would become a high-end No. 2 wideout similar to how they paid Renfrow in 2022.
Clearly, the team’s decision-makers showed their hand in a willingness to pivot to a better system fit for the WR2 role. The Raiders agreed to terms on a new deal with Meyers on March 14, and on March 17, Renfrow’s contract became fully guaranteed for the 2023 season.
As the Raiders targeted Meyers in free agency, they should’ve made early calls to package Renfrow and a draft capital or agree to eat some of his contract in trade talks before his guarantees kicked in, but instead, the team continued to take diminish his chance to contribute despite his hefty salary.
The front office also signed DeAndre Carter, who’s lined up in the slot more than on the boundary in his pro career and has punt-return experience, an overlap with Renfrow’s offensive and special team duties.
Moreover, in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Las Vegas selected speedy slot wideout Tre Tucker.
Despite the Raiders’ interest in adding several wide receivers, the front office didn’t move on from Renfrow before the full guarantees kicked into his contract on the third day of the 2023 league year.
Since the Raiders decided to keep Renfrow on a fully guaranteed 2023 salary, they surely had plans to utilize him regardless of whom they acquired in the offseason, right?
Wrong.
Las Vegas Raiders significantly fade Hunter Renfrow’s role through Week 6
We’re six weeks into the 2023 season, and Renfrow has six catches for 59 yards with only nine targets.
Yes, Renfrow had a down 2022 term because of injuries, so his trade value dropped following a Pro Bowl year, but his market has plummeted even further with a fully guaranteed 2023 salary and little production through the first third of the season.
Back in March, the Raiders should’ve attempted to package Renfrow with a draft pick to move him if they had any inkling that he would become the invisible man in their offense.
Now, Renfrow has a contract that isn’t appealing to teams that want to acquire a wide receiver on a modest deal before the trade deadline, and his lack of production gives him no juice on the trade market.
Renfrow’s snap count has dropped every week since Week 2. According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Raiders want to trade him.
Hello?!?! Does the Raiders front office know how the trade market works in 2023?
The player on the trade block has to appeal to suitors with his production, contract or both. Renfrow situation isn’t attractive on either front.
According to The Athletic’s Tashan Reed, the Raiders hadn’t received any trade offers for Renfrow this past offseason, and we could understand why after his injury-riddled 2022 campaign.
“Renfrow’s name has frequently been in trade rumors this offseason, and that intensified after the Raiders drafted receiver Tre Tucker in the third round in April,” Reed wrote back in June. “But the Raiders haven’t received any trade offers, according to a league source. That could obviously change between now and the trade deadline, but the sense is that nothing is imminent in terms of Renfrow being moved.”
If Vegas wants to trade Renfrow now, it would help to blow the dust off his jersey and target him in the passing game. Yes, he would be at risk for injury, but the team should at least try to raise his depleted trade value.
Hunter Renfrow’s trade value before October 31 deadline
Unless Renfrow looks like the best slot receiver to play the game in the next couple of weeks against the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions, the Raiders will have to settle for a late-round draft pick and probably eat some of Renfrow’s salary to move him in a deal that doesn’t involve giving up their own draft capital.
Clearly, Renfrow doesn’t have a role in McDaniels offense now or in the future with the way Meyers has played as the No. 2 option behind Adams and Tucker’s potential growth as a dynamic speedy threat in the slot and all over the field.
Renfrow’s contract won’t be void until after the 2024 season, a few weeks after his 29th birthday. What team is going to give the Raiders anything of premium value for an underutilized wide receiver with a recent injury history who’s quickly approaching 30 years old?
If general manager Dave Ziegler wants substantial compensation in return for Renfrow, he will have to throw in draft capital to sweeten the deal. Otherwise, the Raiders will get a half-empty bag of chips for their once-coveted human slot machine.
Maurice Moton covers the Raiders for Sportsnaut. You can follow him on Twitter at @MoeMoton.