Raiders are excited about Nelson Agholor, Zay Jones
The Las Vegas Raiders are excited about two veteran receivers.
The now Las Vegas Raiders thought they hit the jackpot last year in Oakland by signing Antonio Brown. That ended in disaster.
Thus the wide receiving corps needed others to step up. Tight end Darren Waller led the team with 1,145 receiving yards, while receivers Tyrell Williams and Hunter Renfrow both managed to finish with over 600 yards.
The Raiders did use a first-round pick on Henry Ruggs this year and he should be pegged as the hopeful future number one receiver in that offense. But for now, the team is relying on others and Jon Gruden expressed excitement about two veterans looking to get back on the right track.
Meanwhile, WR Zay Jones is the most improved player on roster. Gruden: “He’s quicker, he can run forever and he has more confidence.”
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) September 2, 2020
Raiders hyping up two receivers
Nelson Agholor signed with the Raiders this offseason on a one-year deal. He had a disappointing 2019 season with the Philadelphia Eagles in which he finished with 363 yards and only three touchdowns in 11 games. He continued to miss badly in terms of expectations and the Eagles decided to move on.
That isn’t stopping Gruden from hyping up the 2015 first-round pick. Agholor has dealt with drop problems in the past, but did finish with over 700 yards in both 2017 and 2018. Gruden sees him as a versatile receiver in an offense that could use his veteran experience.
Zay Jones joined the Raiders during the 2019 season once the Buffalo Bills decided he just wasn’t working out. He appeared in 10 games with the team and finished with a quiet 147 yards. He is now on the final year of his contract and Gruden saying he has improved is a great sign.
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What the Raiders head coach says must always be taken with some skepticism. He also saw Nathan Peterman as a legitimate option at quarterback. This type of attitude is great for his players as Gruden is always hyping them up. But it also places pressure on players to perform and both Agholor and Jones will be expected to do just that in 2020.
If they fail, they will both have to find new homes in 2021.