Raiders will need more from Jalen Nailor (but he's still been contributing)

When the Las Vegas Raiders signed wide receiver Jalen Nailor to a three-year, $35 million deal in March, there was some projection involved. His role over four seasons with the Minnesota Vikings was never consistently robust, as he was always blocked from playing time by two stars.

During the preseason, it became clear that Nailor's contract promised him nothing; he would still have to earn a prominent role in Las Vegas, and it's hard to say that he got it all the way done. How he did in games that matter would, obviously, ultimately matter more.

Through three games, Nailor has just five catches for 52 yards on 11 targets. Some of that lack of production is due to Kirk Cousins not throwing downfield much (or effectively) in two of three games thus far. In the lone exception, Week 2 against the Los Angeles Chargers, Tre Tucker was on center stage.

Moving forward, finding a way to get more from Nailor is a two-fold equation involving game-planning and him stepping up his game. But his under-the-radar contributions to the Raiders' 3-0 start shouldn't be overlooked, as this is a team game, after all.

Las Vegas Raiders need more from Jalen Nailor, but he's been contributing

The box score is a simple measure of how much someone whose value is derived from production is contributing. But it's also not always an accurate measure of someone's impact, since things like blocking and savvy route-running can open things up for others and benefit the big picture.

While he isn't an especially crushing or prolific blocker, Nailor's willingness in that area of the game has been shown and surely noticed by everyone else. Kubiak loves a skill player who will get his hands dirty, and Nailor has done his job on that front so far.

In a look at how Brock Bowers was deployed in his season debut against the New Orleans Saints, our own Marcus Johnson also ended up highlighting Nailor's role in getting the star tight end open as often as he was, despite attempted resistance from the Saints' defense.

Those intangible things are the kind of things coaches take notice of in the moment during a game and on subsequent review of the tape. It could also lead to being rewarded with opportunities when the circumstances fit.

With all the attention Bowers commands from opposing secondaries, there will be opportunities for others. Kubiak loves setting things up weeks in advance, and Nailor's time may be coming. Those opportunities have to be fully taken advantage of, and Nailor has to be a prominent part of that.

It's easy, and well-warranted, to be disappointed in Nailor's production over his first three games as a Raider. However it's made to happen, that has to change going forward. But it has only been three games, so there's time to get things on track regarding Nailor's contribution to the stat sheet.

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