Raiders: Bryan Edwards trade and the fight for 3rd WR option
A fresh perspective on why Edwards was dealt
Earlier, I touched on how many of Raider Nation believe trading Edwards hints that Las Vegas is in the market for a wideout. Personally, I disagree.
It’s my belief that, instead of the Raiders being in the receiver market because they need a replacement for Bryan Edwards, the team traded the former third-round pick due to there now being a crowded receiver room, with a tight battle for the second starting spot on the outside. Instead of now needing to replace Edwards, the combination of Cole, Robinson, and Hollins made him the odd man out.
The Raiders have added interest in Odell Beckham Jr in the past, but that was before signing Keelan Cole. Since adding Cole to the roster, general manager Dave Ziegler has stated the team is ready to move forward with its current roster. This has only helped back my Edwards theory.
Although I stand on this belief, I go back to all the times I’ve pointed out the lack of speed in the Raiders’ receiving room. The average 40-time for an NFL wide receiver is 4.50, and there’s only one player on the roster who eclipses this number: Tyron Johnson, who’s on the roster bubble. Las Vegas recently added receivers Keelan Cole and Jordan Veasy, both who fall short of the league average.
For this reason, signing a wideout with wheels to compliment the receiver room wouldn’t shock me one bit; Perhaps a Will Fuller, or an Albert Wilson. Even Odell Beckham Jr, who the team was previously reported to have interest in, fits the bill.
Still, the question remains: Who will take the spot at wideout no.2? Let’s break down the three beforementioned receivers, and present their cases for the job.