Breaking down the Oakland Raiders search for a No. 2 wide receiver

The Longshots

Marcell Ateman

If he hasn’t already, the 2018 seventh-round pick might set a NFL record for the amount of transactions with one team. During his tenure with the Silver and Black, Ateman has been cut and added to the active roster three times, and he’s not even halfway through his second season. Obviously this instability makes it difficult for the young pass catcher to establish himself in the team’s wide receiver rotation.

With his roster status in a constant state of limbo, clearly the Raiders don’t feel Ateman can take over the number two role. It will probably take an injury or two for the former Oklahoma State Cowboy to get an opportunity to prove himself in 2019.

Foster Moreau

If push comes to shove and the names above don’t step up, Oakland will have to get creative to solve its number two receiver problem. In recent weeks, Moreau has become more involved in the passing game with seven catches for 76 yards and a touchdown, so he certainly has some talent that Gruden can experiment with. The tight end could split out wide in a pinch, however, that would be a worst case situation.

If at the end of the season Moreau is taking a significant amount of snaps at wide receiver, expect the Silver and Black to use one of its two first-round picks on a wideout. Hopefully a solution to the problem arises before the team gets this desperate.