Las Vegas Raiders revamp wide receiver group during 2020 NFL Draft
On the outside looking in
Most teams, including the Raiders, carry six receivers on the active roster so this leaves a number of guys on the outside looking in or hoping for a role on special teams.
- Marcell Ateman
- Keelan Doss
- Rico Gafford
- Siaosi Mariner
- Anthony Ratliff-Williams
The two new-ish names on the roster for the Raiders are Siaosi Mariner and Anthony Ratliff-Williams, though Ratliff-Williams ended the 2019 season on the team’s practice squad. Mariner was brought in as an undrafted free agent after a productive senior season with Utah State and Ratliff-Williams was signed to a reserve/future contract in December.
Both will face an uphill battle in making the final roster though Ratliff-Williams has the added bonus of being a talented kick returner with two return touchdowns in his college career. If he is to make the active roster then special teams may have to be his calling card.
Rico Gafford and Marcell Ateman are familiar names for the Raiders having been on the team in some fashion since 2018. Both Ateman and Gafford have yo-yoed from the practice squad to the active roster though Ateman has been counted on much more, starting six games in 2018. We can expect a similar role here for these practice warriors as they already know Gruden’s offense and can fill in as needed as they have the last two seasons.
Next. Draft grade: WR Bryan Edwards. dark
Keelan Doss was one of the stars of Hard Knocks but were it not for Antonio Brown’s meltdown he may still be on the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad. Doss signed a one-year deal with the Raiders that extends through 2020 but can be released with no penalty if the Raiders so choose. Doss does not play special teams so if he is to make the active roster he will need to beat out Agholor or Jones or prove to Gruden and Mike Mayock to keep seven receivers instead of the usual six.