2019 NFL Draft: Is Marquise Brown on the Oakland Raiders radar?

The Raiders brought in four new pass catchers this offseason. With the draft approaching, will they keep surrounding Derek Carr with more offensive weapons?

To kick off the offseason the Raiders brought in arguably the best wide receiver in football, when they traded for Antonio Brown. They didn’t stop there, as they also signed Tyrell Williams, Ryan Grant and J.J. Nelson.

Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock have changed the look of the offense heading into 2019, and who’s to say they are done adding? Gruden always loves a new shiny toy on offense, and Marquise “Hollywood” Brown is just that.

Brown’s draft value has dropped during the ongoing months of the draft process. Mainly because he missed the combine and his pro day due to a Lisfranc injury. Since the injury, he has undergone surgery to repair his foot, and has made a full recovery according to Brown.

If Brown can return back to his elite form, he should emerge as one of the top rookie pass catchers in the NFL. In his final year at the University of Oklahoma, he recorded 75 catches, 1318-yards and 10 touchdowns.

If the Raiders look into adding “Hollywood” to their offense, it would give them all kinds of options in the passing game. Also to note, Marquise already has ties with Antonio Brown, as they are cousins.

Drafting Brown makes sense if Gruden wants to complete his wide receiver room for the future. He would fit right into the slot position and get to shadow Antonio Brown and Tyrell Williams everyday at practice.

The Raiders current options at slot are Ryan Grant and J.J. Nelson who both signed one-year deals and don’t appear to be in the Raiders long-term plans heading to Las Vegas. Both Grant and Nelson are nice additions to the roster, but neither have the skill set that Brown can bring to the team.

“Hollywood” has all the tools teams look for in an NFL prospect. His run after catch ability and vision is superior in order to get into open space. He will likely see more playing time in the slot, but during his time in college he showed the ability to also play outside and stretch the field with his vertical speed.

It’s no secret, the Raiders biggest hole to address in the draft is defensive line, however adding another pass catcher can solidify the Raiders as one of the more dynamic offenses in football.

The Raiders go head-to-head against the Chiefs and Chargers twice a year, who both provide explosive offenses. By adding another dynamic weapon to the Raiders offense, it will provide them will the firepower to compete in games that turn into shootouts.

In a deep draft class of wide receivers, Gruden and Mayock have so many options to their disposal if they chose to stack their wide receiver group by adding another piece. “Hollywood” is projected to be a late first-round to early second-round selection come draft day.