Las Vegas Raiders must choose Nelson Agholor or Tyrell Williams

So what do the Raiders do?

The Raiders need to do whatever it takes, within reason, to bring back Nelson Agholor and let Tyrell Williams go. Williams has not proven he has what it takes to be a number one receiver in the NFL and the Raiders simply can’t afford to have a player with his current injury issues as their primary target.

Williams is an excellent complimentary player, and when he was signed, was projected to be the number two receiver to Antonio Brown, rather than WR1 though he did an admirable job in the role before he was injured. Perhaps the Raiders can renegotiate with Williams and bring him back at a discount, but his production or lack thereof is not acceptable at his salary.

Agholor has not had a 1,000-yard season in his career, but he projected to have 1,050 yards and 60 catches if he started all 16 games for Las Vegas this past season, so the possibility of being a true number one is there. He was on the field for less than 20% of the snaps in the first two games and averaged more than 75% of the snaps for the other 14.

The only concern is if this is a one-year wonder situation, but Agholor does have two other seasons in his career with over 700 yards and 60 receptions, so he has shown he can be productive.

The former Eagle is expected to test the open market, and Raiders beat writers doubt that he returns to Las Vegas because of what they are willing to pay him. The Raiders could certainly offer him something in the range of what Williams is currently making, but they would have to let the former Charger walk first.

It would be an unexpected twist in the Raiders’ journey of building a competent receiver corps for Derek Carr, but things change quickly in the NFL. Year 2 of the Carr-Agholor connection along with the expected development of Henry Ruggs and Bryan Edwards could make for a dangerous trio, and that’s not even mentioning the ever-consistent Hunter Renfrow, and one of the best tight ends in football in Darren Waller.

The Raiders have a decision to make, but if Agholor is willing to play ball and return to Las Vegas, then it may not be a very difficult one at all for the front office to make.