The Raiders upgraded their wideout group this offseason, but PFF feels they have a long way to go before they are one of the better units in the NFL.
During the 2019 NFL season, the then-Oakland Raiders struggled at the wide receiver group in a big way. Expected to go into the year with Antonio Brown headlining a group that included Tyrell Williams, the Raiders looked very different in Week 1, as Brown never played for the Silver and Black, and Williams ascended into the WR1 role.
From there, the Raiders wide receiver group saw a ton of movement all season long, whether it was injuries, or inconsistent play. Williams played very well when healthy, and rookie Hunter Renfrow emerged as a legitimate threat in the slot, but as a whole, the wide receiver unit was one of the worst in football.
As the team heads to Las Vegas, Mike Mayock made it a point to upgrade the position group as a whole, but Pro Football Focus is not too sure they will make an impact right away.
Raiders wideout group ranked towards bottom of the NFL
Recently, PFF ranked all 32 NFL wide receiver groups, and they were not kind to the Raiders, ranking them No. 28 out of the 32 NFL teams. The piece spoke about the Raiders upgrading the position group with draft picks Henry Ruggs III and Bryan Edwards, and while PFF liked the additions, and the guys returning, consistency could be an issue.
"The Raiders have the speed in Ruggs and Williams to go with underneath options in Renfrow and Edwards, but the every-down consistency remains the biggest question for this receiving corps heading into 2020."
Ruggs has the ability to take the lid off the defense, and last season, when healthy, Williams proved to be a touchdown machine. Derek Carr is entering his third season in Jon Gruden’s offense, and this is the best collection of talent he has had at wide receiver, so he could also be in for a monster season in 2020.
Overall, I believe this collection of talent ranks in the middle of the pack in terms of all 32 NFL teams, with the talent to crack the top-10 before all is said and done. The Raiders return their entire offensive line, and elite players at running back and tight end, so if the wideouts do their part, points should not be an issue in the first season in Vegas.
Sure, there are a bunch of young players within the group, and some veterans who will need to bounce back from injury in 2019. Bottom line is, the group as a whole is much improved over last season, and if Carr can get them the ball, they have the talent to be an explosive group in 2020.