Oakland Raiders: 5 wide receivers to target in 2018 free agency
By John Buhler
Here is a guy that could really pop in the Raiders offense should he signed his second contract with the team. Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Paul Richardson has come on in his last two seasons in the league out of Colorado. Viewed as a bust in his first two years in the league, Richardson emerged as a reliable No. 2 receiver for Russell Wilson in Seattle.
However, the Seahawks did fire long-time offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell after missing out on the NFC playoffs for the first time of the Wilson era at quarterback. Tight end Jimmy Graham is almost certainly walking in free agency, but it remains to be seen if the Seahawks will prioritize bringing back Richardson on a second contract.
2017 was by far and away the best year of Richardson’s NFL career. He gathered 44 catches for 703 yards and six touchdowns, all career highs. Keep in mind that he did this playing in an offense that featured the saddest offensive line you will ever see. Though talented coming out of Colorado, there still feels like a ton of untapped potential in Richardson as an NFL receiver.
Not to say that he’ll be a Pro Bowl level player, but he could get to 1,000 receiving yards in the right system. Richardson is not a No. 1 receiver, but could flourish in Gruden’s West Coast system opposite of Cooper. Though Oakland will likely have to pay a premium to get him, Richardson could work in this new-look Raiders offense as Derek Carr‘s No. 2 option.