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Jordy Nelson should be back with the Oakland Raiders in 2019

By Brad Weiss

DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 16: Wide receiver Jordy Nelson #82 of the Oakland Raiders catches a ball as he warms up before a game against the Denver Broncos at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on September 16, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 16: Wide receiver Jordy Nelson #82 of the Oakland Raiders catches a ball as he warms up before a game against the Denver Broncos at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on September 16, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /
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Jordy Nelson finished his first season with the Oakland Raiders with some strong play, and should be back with the team in 2019.

The Oakland Raiders made former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson one of their bigger signings this past offseason, adding a guy who was an absolute touchdown machine during his time with the Pack. While he did not find the end zone too much for the Raiders in 2018, he did show himself to be a valuable commodity, even at an advanced age as far as wide receivers go.

Oakland will likely be adding, and subtracting, a ton of players when it comes to their roster for 2019, as Mike Mayock was brought in to be the new general manager this past week. Over the next couple of months, Mayock and Jon Gruden will spend their time re-shaping the Raiders roster, and Nelson is a player that plans to, and should be brought back.

Nelson recently told Scott Bair from NBCSports Bay Area that he plans to be back with the team in 2019, but that it is not always the player’s decision. He is owed nearly $8 million next season, and the Raiders would be wise to bring him back.

During the course of the season, Nelson dropped only one pass according to Pro Football Focus, making his 1.6% drop rate the seventh-best in all of football. Towards the end of the season, he really started developing a rapport with Derek Carr, and should be viewed as a guy to help this team in their last season before moving to Las Vegas.

Nelson signed a 2yr/$14.2 million dollar contract with the Raiders this past offseason.

In 15 games with the Raiders in 2018, making 14 starts, Nelson hauled in 63 passes for over 750 yards, while finding the end zone three times. His 88 targets matched the number he reached last season with Green Bay, and his catch percentage (71.6%) was the highest of his career.

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Nelson is a leader in every sense of the word, and the Raiders need that kind of player heading into next season, as 2018 seventh-rounder Marcell Ateman will be expected to play a bigger role, as well as whoever the team brings in via the 2019 NFL Draft. He will be well worth his price tag for one more season.

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