5 Most disappointing Raiders of the past 20 years
5. Martavis Bryant
Kicking off this list is wide receiver Martavis Bryant. Acquired from the Steelers for a 3rd round pick, Bryant was a big, physical receiver that had shown flashes during his time in Pittsburgh. Having to play second fiddle to Antonio Brown, Bryant never put up eye popping numbers, but there was no doubt that the raw, athletic ability was off the charts.
He was seen more as a boom-or-bust type of player who was known for his big play ability. His rookie year he put up eight touchdowns, his longest going for 94 yards, and averaged 21.1 yards per reception. The following season he put up six touchdowns, an average of 15.3 yards per reception and a long of 88.
Unfortunately for Bryant, off the field issues became a problem. He was suspended the entire 2016 season for violating the leagues substance abuse policy.
He came back and played in 15 games for the Steelers in 2017, starting eight of them. He eventually asked to be traded, and that’s when the Raiders swooped in during the 2018 NFL Draft, sending the 79th overall pick to the Steelers for Bryant. The thought was that a change of scenery would do him well, and the Raiders were in a big time need of an injection of talent at the wide receiver position.
Bryant ended up only playing in eight games for the Raiders, two of them in which he started. He put up 19 receptions for 266 yards before eventually being suspended indefinitely for violating the terms of his probation. The Raiders parted ways with him in what would be the second shortest stint a Steelers wide receiver would have with the Silver and Black.