Oakland Raiders Rumors: 5 NFL Free Agent Wide Receivers the Raiders Should Considering Signing
It hasn't been a kind 12 years for the Oakland Raiders since losing the Super Bowl to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Raiders haven't had a winning record since that year, and they have routinely finished at the bottom of the standings.
However, rookie quarterback Derek Carr played very well last season for his young age. Carr is expected to be the future franchise quarterback for the Raiders, and they have to build around him. The addition of Michael Crabtree is nice, but the Raiders have more options still available in free agency.
Here are five free agent wide receivers the Raiders should consider signing.
1. Reggie Wayne
Reggie Wayne is one of the greatest wide receivers in recent memory, but he is currently unemployed. Wayne has spent his entire 14-year career with the Indianapolis Colts, and he's obviously past his prime. However, adding Wayne to the roster would give the Raiders a veteran future Hall of Famer, kind of like they did with Jerry Rice in 2001. Wayne could help teach the younger receivers and give some advice to Carr, who is just 23 years old. Let's also not forget that Wayne had 779 receiving yards last season.
2. Wes Welker
The Raiders know firsthand about Wes Welker, considering he played for the Denver Broncos the last two seasons. Michael Crabtree is good at catching midfield passes, but adding Welker to the roster could give Carr a nice option in the slot area to move the chains. The Raiders don't have a very reliable slot receiver, and their running game is still very suspect with Trent Richardson in the backfield. Health is a concern with Welker, so a small short term contract should do just fine with management.
3. Brandon Lloyd
Brandon Lloyd is a journeyman. He has played for the San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, Washington Redskins and St. Louis Rams. He's not a very consistent player, but Lloyd still has great speed and he can stretch the field for Carr. Lloyd is also pretty used to playing in the AFC West having played for the Broncos for three seasons. Signing Lloyd has its risks because he isn't viewed as the best teammate, but again, he has the down-field speed.
4. Santana Moss
Things don't look very promising with this signing, but as a last resort, it could pay off. Santana Moss's receiving yards have decreased the last four consecutive seasons. Like a stock on Wall Street, the Raiders have a chance to buy a big name at a low price, and cash out. Moss has more than 10,000 career receiving yards, and he knows how to run proper routes at the correct times. The Raiders pass offense ranked No. 26 overall last season, so again, they could use quite a bit of help.
5. James Jones
Why not? Not many people realize it, but James Jones was the leading receiver on the Raiders last season with 73 catches, 666 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns. Think about that for a second. The Raiders chose to release the guy who led the team in every receiving category last season, and he's still available. This could be a golden opportunity to re-sign a quality wide out for a very cheap price, while bringing back someone who is familiar with the way Carr plays. Jones has missed just two games dating back to 2008 with the Green Bay Packers, proving to be a reliable player.
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