Las Vegas Raiders need to make Allen Robinson a priority in 2021

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr still needs a true number one wide receiver. The team should pursue Allen Robinson and alleviate this deficiency.

Unless team brass decides to go in a different direction, Derek Carr will be the starting quarterback again for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021. Marcus Mariota could return as the backup, but it’s doubtful the Raiders would use draft capital on a signal-caller. If that’s indeed the case, the Silver and Black still need to allocate money towards a true No. 1 wide receiver.

What’s the state of the wide receiver corps?

All-world tight end Darren Waller is the most reliable pass-catcher currently on the Raiders, as he’s Carr’s most targeted receiver with 129 targets, and there is a large drop off in looks for the second-most targeted player. Nelson Agholor has 72 targets with Hunter Renfrow coming in third with 65 this season.

Renfrow is the leading receiver on the team with 48 receptions behind Waller’s 93, and even with an improved defense, the Raiders need more from their receiver corps.

So how does Robinson fit in with the Raiders?

First off, Allen Robinson would add another level of explosiveness to Jon Gruden’s offense. He’s averaging 12.3 yards per reception with the Chicago Bears, and his longest reception on the season has been for 42 yards. Robinson’s also a tough receiver to bring down, as he has five broken tackles to his name to go along with 274 yards after the catch.

The issue will be a monetary one for the Raiders when it comes to Robinson, as PFF’s Austin Gayle alluded to on Twitter. How much are they willing to spend on the wide receiver position when there are already some options in-house?

The team could opt to bring back Agholor, but he’d certainly not come cheap with the season he’s had. Tyrell Williams could return to the squad in 2021, which could make Agholor expendable, but there is no way the team would pay for two number one receivers.

It’s easy to forget about Williams due to his injuries, but let’s not forget his production once the Antonio Brown debacle occurred. It was 15.5 yards per reception and six touchdowns in 2019 to be exact for Williams. A lineup of Waller at tight end, Renfrow in the slot with Robinson and Henry Ruggs III on the outside should have Gruden and Carr salivating.

You would then have Williams and Bryan Edwards behind them, and as a whole, that’s an imposing receiver group. Whether Raiders brass will be willing to invest that kind of money to bring in Robinson will be the issue, as the team prepares for the off-season these two coming weeks.