Las Vegas Raiders: 3 offensive gambles that must pay off in 2021
By Brad Weiss
Las Vegas Raiders: 3 offensive gambles that must pay off in 2021
Letting Nelson Agholor walk in free agency
Heading into the 2020 NFL season, the Raiders were not expecting that much out of Nelson Agholor, other than a solid contribution from a veteran at the wideout spot. With two rookies drafted in the 2020 NFL Draft, the hope was that Agholor would provide some veteran support, but he ended up having the best year of his career.
Instead of bringing Agholor back on a long-term deal, the Raiders decided to let him walk in free agency, where the New England Patriots were waiting with open arms. While the contract was a monster with the Pats, the Raiders will now have to find out who is going to step up and be their WR1 this upcoming season now that he is gone.
There are plenty of options, including veteran John Brown, who has been very productive at the pro level in the past. There is also Henry Ruggs III, the first-ever draft pick by the Raiders in Las Vegas, and a player who struggled in Year 1 in 2020. If either of these two players can assume the WR1 mantle, then letting Agholor walk was a smart move.