Raiders: Bryan Edwards trade and the fight for 3rd WR option
Raiders: Bryan Edwards trade and the fight for 3rd WR option
Demarcus Robinson
From the start, Robinson was who I predicted to grab the no.2 spot on the outside. ESPN shares the same opinion, jotting Robinson as the second starting wideout for the Raiders. In saying this, neither ESPN nor I are the Raiders coaches, meaning this is only our best guess, and not what will indefinitely transpire – After all, there’s still months before that decision will be made.
Over the last four-years, Robinson has totaled 14 touchdowns and 1,467 yards. The Kansas City Chiefs, who have currently been to the AFC Championship Game 4x in a row, have brought the wideout back on an extension for multiple years in a row. Of course, this isn’t to say Robinson has been a major factor in their success, but a team as successful as Kansas City has made sure to keep him around.
Why would they be so willing to do this?
When looking at Robinson’s body of work, there’s two things that impress me: His availability, and ability to produce when the stars are sidelined. The latter should hit Raider Nation hard, being once the Raiders and Henry Ruggs parted ways, it took a while before another wideout stepped up.
The first of the two standout traits mentioned above is Robinson’s availability. Throughout his six-year career, the veteran wideout has yet to miss a game. In all 97 games scheduled since entering the NFL, Robinson has been ready, and appeared in each one.
The second was his ability to produce without star power around him. When Hill was out for four-weeks in 2019, Robinson played some of his best football. This includes a career-day against his new Raiders team, in which he recorded 172 receiving yards and two scores. Hill also sat out during the final game of the ’20 season, where Robinson totaled 58 yards, catching 6 of the 7 passes his way.
It’s still unclear whether this is the final look of the Raiders’ receiving corps or not, but for now, Robinson is my favorite to start alongside Adams. There’s some close competition, though.