The Oakland Raiders Should Pass on Victor Cruz
The Oakland Raiders need an upgrade at slot wide receiver, but Victor Cruz isn’t the answer.
It’s no secret that the Oakland Raiders are in need of an upgrade at slot wide receiver. Despite Seth Roberts’ penchant for game-winning touchdowns, his overall body of work is spotty at best, with frustrating drops being at the forefront of his problems.
As an undrafted free agent out of West Alabama in 2015, Roberts, to his credit, has appeared in all 32 regular season games since. In 2015, Seth recorded 32 catches on 55 targets for 480 yards and 5 touchdowns. In 2016, he hauled in 38 passes on 77 targets for 397 yards and 5 touchdowns.
Fairly similar stat lines year over year, with a notable difference in catch to target ratio. Derek Carr seemed more intent on feeding Seth the rock, while Seth seemed intent on dropping more passes.
As JBB’s own Austin Gayle pointed out in his review of Roberts’ 2016 season:
"Roberts, a former undrafted free agent out of South Alabama, boasted a 6.5 percent drop rate in 2016, the fourth-highest rate among NFL receivers drawing 50 or more targets, per Sporting Charts. He had similar problems with drops in 2015, as he finished the year with 7.3 percent drop rate."
If the offense is going to take the next step, from very good to elite, they’ll need a better slot receiver.
With Victor Cruz recently being released by the New York Giants, many in Raider Nation have been quick to clamor for the salsa-dancing wideout to don the Silver and Black. But Cruz won’t solve any problems, and is a player that Reggie McKenzie should easily pass on signing in free agency.
Like Roberts, Cruz is a feel good story, just magnified exponentially. An undrafted free agent out of UMass in 2010, Victor has carved out quite a career, with a two-season peak that had him in the conversation of being at least a top ten wide receiver.
In 2011, Cruz recorded 82 catches for 1,536 yards and 9 touchdowns. The next season, he registered 86 catches for 1,092 yards and 10 touchdowns.
But then in 2013, the salsa dances became less frequent, as Cruz hauled in 73 receptions for 998 yards and just 4 touchdowns. And then the fall from grace began.
Cruz went down with a torn patellar tendon just six games into the 2014 season, and was subsequently placed on injured reserve. Cruz injured his calf during recovery from the patellar tendon injury, which required surgery, and he missed the entire 2015 season as result.
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In 2016, Cruz appeared in 15 games, but only picked up 39 catches for 586 yards and 1 touchdown. At 30 years old, he’s unfortunately a shell of his former self.
With his athleticism trending in the wrong direction, especially given his multiple leg injuries, Cruz’s ability to separate has dwindled. He’s still a savvy route-runner and can have some success as a result, but that success is much more infrequent than it was in his heyday.
With slot wide receiver being such a major need, Reggie McKenzie and the Raiders should look elsewhere for help.
Internally, a player such as Johnny Holton could be given an increased role. Holton, even in limited time on the field, looked the part of a quality wideout.
In free agency, perhaps DeSean Jackson could be signed on a team friendly two-year deal. In the draft, how about Taywan Taylor or Chris Godwin? Or Curtis Samuel? There are a number of talented wide receivers in this draft class.
McKenzie has proven he can found talent late in the draft, or even undrafted, at skill positions. In order to upgrade the position, his best bet is to go back to the well and hope to strike gold yet again.