Raiders' solution to the wide receiver position is simple: Get faster
Though the Las Vegas Raiders have a star receiver, they still want to improve at that critical offensive position.
In the NFL, a team can never have too much speed at the wide receiver position.
And throughout the offseason, that is exactly what the Las Vegas Raiders attempted to add with names like DeAndre Carter, Cam Sims, and Philly [Phillip] Dorsett. On Wednesday, offensive coordinator, Mick Lombardi offered insight into how the Raiders attempted to improve at one of the most important positions on offense.
"Those guys all work very, very hard," he said. "They all came here on their visit and they expressed how much they love football and how much they want to be in a culture that kind of has a hardnosed attitude, preaches hard work, dependability, accountability. I think all those guys have shown up every day to try and do that. And that's been the most encouraging part, because obviously every year in free agency you lose guys, you gain guys, but if you can gain good people, that's really the most important thing. I think we did that at the receiver position.
"Everyone's looking to get faster. So I mean, definitely. I mean, obviously, we preach speed, toughness, competitiveness, and all those things. So for sure, at any position, we're looking to improve our skill set, whatever way it may be."
At the receiver position, the Raiders have a star in Davante Adams. But outside of that, the options are rather blah at best. The Raiders brought over Jakobi Meyers from New England, and he is a player that Adams feels can reach another level in a different system. Carter was a depth addition. The same goes for Dorsett and Sims.
Then there is the question of Hunter Renfrow, who was listed as a possible trade candidate ahead of Week 1 of the season for the Raiders.
But in all, with the depth pieces the Raiders added, the wide receiver position got a bit faster. And in the NFL, speed kills.
Only time will tell if these are decisions that will propel the team toward success in 2023.
Feature image via Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports.
