The Dallas Cowboys may sign Pro Bowl receiver and former Los Angeles Raider, Hunter Renfrow in a bargain deal that could add noise to a quiet free agency. Renfrow was recently released from the Raiders before the new league year and now he could be heading to Dallas. According to a source, he was linked to the Cowboys in a potential cheap deal upon his release. It seems like Renfrow is running out of options after a disappointing campaign last season, but the Cowboys may still be interested.
It may be hard to envision the release since he signed an extension with the Raiders in 2022 for a two-year, $32 million dollar deal. In 2021, Renfrow caught 103 passes for 1,038 yards and nine touchdowns. He received his first Pro Bowl nod that year and was a leader in the locker. It looked like he was having a bright future until his production slowed.
Renfrow missed seven games in 2022 after signing his new contract while battling injuries. However, he returned to the team but wasn’t able to get back to his old self. He finished the year with just 36 catches for 330 yards and two touchdowns. The Raiders were loading up on receivers last offseason with additions of Jakobi Myers, DeAndre Carter and Tre Tucker.
Renfrow’s role with the team slowly took a hit when healthy for all 17 games in 2023. He played a career-low 35% of the offensive snaps and caught just 25 passes for 255 yards. There wasn’t anything to justify why Renfrow would return to Las Vegas, leading to his release to save the Raiders money.
The #Raiders will release WR Hunter Renfrow when the new league year begins later today, source said, as he was to count $13.7M against the cap. Renfrow, along with QB Jimmy Garoppolo, will both be free agents. pic.twitter.com/ps7AaFXb1x
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 13, 2024
Dallas Cowboys May Sign Pro Bowl Receiver Hunter Renfrow in Bargain Deal
One Receiver Slot is Up in the air
While CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks are set to be starters for the Dallas Cowboys, there are some questions about their WR3. The Cowboys will reportedly move on from Michael Gallup since he’s already on the trade block. It’s unlikely that Gallup will find a trade partner which will probably lead to his release before his guaranteed money kicks in. They would be left with options like Jalen Tolbert, KaVontae Turpin and Jalen Brooks but they’re not proven yet.
Renfrow isn’t an expensive option either, he’s still someone who can be a reliable receiver who can complement Lamb on the other end of the slot. Cooks could become an outside guy or in slant routes while Lamb and Renfrow focus on the deep threat. The former fifth-rounder in 2019 didn’t have a smooth campaign upon his release which may lead his suitors to shambles. However, following Carr’s exit, he couldn’t get on the same page with Jimmy Garoppolo.
Renfrow had career lows across the board, but he wasn’t getting the proper playing time under a struggling offense. Playing for Dak Prescott could improve his production, especially after the year that Prescott had. If Renfrow hitting sharp routes and having good hands is something that the team wants, then they may sign him.
Other Potential Destinations for Renfrow
The Los Angeles Chargers are one option after the release of star receiver, Mike Williams. However, it would have to be cheap since the cash-strapped team is still cleaning up their cap space. A team that makes it a little likely as a potential destination is the Chicago Bears. They’ll likely need to add a reliable asset in preparation for potentially selecting Caleb Williams in the upcoming draft.
Since Darnell Mooney is moving on to join Kirk Cousins in Atlanta, the Bears are in a hole in their slot. Either way, they’re going to need a receiver.
