Nelson Agholor has been a great get for the Las Vegas Raiders this season, and they need to make his one-year deal a multi-year one as soon as possible.
The Las Vegas Raiders held the No. 12 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, and with every big-name wide receiver prospect available, they decided to roll the dice on speedster Henry Ruggs III. While the rookie has had some big moments in Year 1, he has seen his season ravaged by injury, and COVID-19, so he has not been as productive as many expected coming in.
Ruggs was supposed to lead a position group that was a real issue last season, and while he has made strides in Year 1, it has been another deep threat that has emerged as the top wideout on this roster. That player was a ho-hum free agent signing back in March but has emerged as instant offense, putting his past issues behind him.
Top offensive free-agent pickup of 2020
Nelson Agholor was a first-round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles back in 2015, and while he had some bright moments, including the team’s win in Super Bowl LII, where he led the Birds in receiving, he was eventually cast away due to his issues with the dropsies. In fact, many in Raider Nation hated the signing in March, but he has become the best offensive free agent signing the team made.
Agholor had one catch in his Raiders debut, a 23-yard touchdown against Carolina, and would have only one catch the following week as well. He made his first start for the Silver and Black in Week 4, and since then, he has been targeted as many as 11 times in a single game, proving to be a top option for Derek Carr and this passing attack.
Agholor has become the WR1 in Vegas and should continue to be
When it comes time for the 2021 offseason, the Raiders need to make Agholor a priority and should make extending him one of the first things they do. Not only did he prove that his drops issue was behind him, but he showed he can be the kind of playmaker down the field that this team has been lacking.
With Ruggs struggling a bit as a rookie, it is not easy to assume he is just going to come to camp and be the WR1 next season, so bringing Agholor back has to be a top priority. With Agholor and Ruggs on the outside and Hunter Renfrow in the slot, the Raiders have a solid top-3 at wide receiver to go along with an elite option at tight end in Darren Waller.
The Raiders defense is atrocious and must be addressed this offseason, so bring back Agholor to this offense checks off one of the few boxes they have and allows Mayock and Gruden to focus on the other side of the ball.
Agholor will be only 28 when the 2021 NFL season begins, so there is plenty of good football left in him. Sure, he had a couple of drops this season, but he became the most reliable wide receiver for Derek Carr and Marcus Mariota and needs to be a part of the plan moving forward in Las Vegas.