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If you're the Raiders with as big a need at wide receiver as they have, you don't come out of free agency and head into the draft without making a move. Even with a considerable amount of cap room, the Raiders approached free agency conservatively. They chose to spend most of their money on keeping and extending their own players like Maxx Crosby, Adam Butler, and Malcolm Koonce while not dropping any big money on outside free agents.
Well, now is the time teams start getting some better deals on outside free agents still looking for homes. It's even possible the Raiders have their sights on a familiar face, but just haven't pulled the trigger yet.
As it happens, most of the top free agents still out there have ties to the Raiders and/or Raiders current coaching staff. Here are the top five who fit that mold.
The former Raiders fourth overall pick is considered the best free agent receiver still unsigned. Though I wouldn't say his ties to the Raiders makes him a more likely addition. If anything, his excitement at being traded to the Cowboys during the 2018 season could mean he is less likely to return to the Silver & Black. He has always been extremely talented, but severely lacking in the heart department. Mainly that his seems to run just above a flatline.
Allen has spent the past years of his career with Chris Beatty as his wide receivers coach. The first three in LA with the Chargers (2021-23) and last season with the Bears. Two of those seasons, Allen went to the Pro Bowl (2021, 23). Beatty brought Allen with him to Chicago, so it would seem likely he would try to get him in to come to Las Vegas as well. The 33-year-old had a down season on a bad Bears team, but is just a season removed from his second best NFL season.
[IMG alt="`’Jan 5, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Seattle Seahawks Wide Receiver Tyler Lockett
(16) runs down the field baseline at SoFi Stadium for the Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Rams Week 18 matchup. Mandatory Credit: William Navarro-Imagn Images"]https://media.zenfs.com/en/las_vega...es_842/22b6c415568e28ddd5a67fabe56fd6e0[/IMG]
Lockett was one half of an outstanding wide receiver corps in Seattle under Pete Carroll for nine seasons. This included four straight seasons over the 1000-yard mark (2019-22) while averaging nine touchdowns per season. At 33, he isn't the receiver he once was, but he's still better than a good many other starting receivers in this league.
Raiders new senior offensive assistant was once the wide receivers coach for the Bengals from 2018 to 2020. One of his wide receiver's was Boyd. And those three seasons were Boyd's three best seasons as a pro. Two of those seasons, Boyd went over 1000 yards. The 30-year-old's production dipped in Tennessee last season on a bad offense, but prior to that, he was a very productive receiver in Cincinnati for many years.
The best season of Agholor's career remains his 2020 season in Las Vegas. That season he averaged an impressive 18.7 yards per catch also with career highs in yards (896) and touchdowns (eight). Last season at the age of 31, though he had a career-low 14 catches, he put up his second best yards per catch (16.5).
This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: Best free agent WR's still available have ties to Raiders
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Well, now is the time teams start getting some better deals on outside free agents still looking for homes. It's even possible the Raiders have their sights on a familiar face, but just haven't pulled the trigger yet.
As it happens, most of the top free agents still out there have ties to the Raiders and/or Raiders current coaching staff. Here are the top five who fit that mold.
Amari Cooper
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The former Raiders fourth overall pick is considered the best free agent receiver still unsigned. Though I wouldn't say his ties to the Raiders makes him a more likely addition. If anything, his excitement at being traded to the Cowboys during the 2018 season could mean he is less likely to return to the Silver & Black. He has always been extremely talented, but severely lacking in the heart department. Mainly that his seems to run just above a flatline.
Keenan Allen
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Allen has spent the past years of his career with Chris Beatty as his wide receivers coach. The first three in LA with the Chargers (2021-23) and last season with the Bears. Two of those seasons, Allen went to the Pro Bowl (2021, 23). Beatty brought Allen with him to Chicago, so it would seem likely he would try to get him in to come to Las Vegas as well. The 33-year-old had a down season on a bad Bears team, but is just a season removed from his second best NFL season.
Tyler Lockett
[IMG alt="`’Jan 5, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Seattle Seahawks Wide Receiver Tyler Lockett
(16) runs down the field baseline at SoFi Stadium for the Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Rams Week 18 matchup. Mandatory Credit: William Navarro-Imagn Images"]https://media.zenfs.com/en/las_vega...es_842/22b6c415568e28ddd5a67fabe56fd6e0[/IMG]
Lockett was one half of an outstanding wide receiver corps in Seattle under Pete Carroll for nine seasons. This included four straight seasons over the 1000-yard mark (2019-22) while averaging nine touchdowns per season. At 33, he isn't the receiver he once was, but he's still better than a good many other starting receivers in this league.
Tyler Boyd
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Raiders new senior offensive assistant was once the wide receivers coach for the Bengals from 2018 to 2020. One of his wide receiver's was Boyd. And those three seasons were Boyd's three best seasons as a pro. Two of those seasons, Boyd went over 1000 yards. The 30-year-old's production dipped in Tennessee last season on a bad offense, but prior to that, he was a very productive receiver in Cincinnati for many years.
Nelson Agholor
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The best season of Agholor's career remains his 2020 season in Las Vegas. That season he averaged an impressive 18.7 yards per catch also with career highs in yards (896) and touchdowns (eight). Last season at the age of 31, though he had a career-low 14 catches, he put up his second best yards per catch (16.5).
This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: Best free agent WR's still available have ties to Raiders
Continue reading...
