What does Hunter Renfrow being extended mean for the Las Vegas Raiders?
Why did Renfrow deserve an extension?
Drafted in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft, Hunter Renfrow has noticeably improved each season.
Renfrow came into the pro level with the nickname “3rd and Renfrow”. During his rookie year, the Clemson receiver lived up to that namesake, totaling 30 first downs. It wasn’t just that Renfrow was moving the chains, but rather the situations in which he was targeted. It seemed like Carr went Renfrow’s way in the biggest of third downs, and more often than not, Renfrow delivered.
When his sophomore year in the NFL came, Renfrow leaped upward in most statistical categories. By the year’s end, he had surpassed his rookie season yards, catches, catch percentage, and of course first downs. As reliable as Renfrow was in clutch situations during these two seasons, there was a far gap between him and stardom. Then, that changed drastically.
Last season, Renfrow had a career year in every aspect. He upped his touchdowns by more than double his previous career-high, caught 47 more passes than he ever had in one season, recorded nearly 400 more receiving yards, and took another jump in his catch percentage.
As good as the numbers were, Renfrow’s most impressive takeaways from the season were things that don’t show up on the stat sheet. For example, number one is his display of running unique and precise routes.
Take a look at some of the ridiculous routes Renfrow was able to master just one season ago:
When you run routes this nasty...
— NFL (@NFL) June 10, 2022
You're gonna get the bag. 💰@renfrowhunter | @Raiders pic.twitter.com/GLakThCZZm
Good Morning Football’s Peter Schrager went as far as claiming Renfrow might be the best route runner leaguewide in a 10-yard box. Looking at some of the routes above, it’s hard to make an argument against that.
With his routes, Renfrow was able to do another thing that was equally impressive but didn’t show up on the stat sheet either: Remain consistent when the Raiders’ receiver room was burning to the ground.
When Ruggs was suiting up for Las Vegas last season, the Raiders surpassed 300 passing yards in five of their seven contests. Without Ruggs, that 300 number was met just once in the remaining 10. This was no fault of Renfrow.
In those 10 games without Ruggs, Renfrow surpassed 100 receiving yards in three different contests, recorded at least 40 receiving yards in 7 of the 10, and at least 30 in all but one. The latest Raider to get an extension also put up 7 of his 9 touchdowns in this period when the team needed it more than ever.