The gears are turning on the NFL off-season. The coaching carousel is almost done spinning, the Reese’s Senior Bowl has been played (shoutout to MVP Justin Herbert), and the Super Bowl kicks off this Sunday. Ah, the Super Bowl, a game the Raiders haven’t played in since 2002. Looking at the two teams in Super Bowl LIV, the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers, both feature top five scoring offenses. In fact, this will be the fourth straight Super Bowl in which both teams featured top-five scoring offenses. The last time the Raiders played in the Super Bowl is coincidentally the last time they had a top-five scoring offense. Obviously the Las Vegas Raiders need to get better offensively. The first player the offense needs to target is A.J. Green.
Green would be the most accomplished wide receiver the team has had since Tim Brown left. He’s a two-time All-Pro and a seven-time Pro Bowler. He’s exactly the type of presence the team needs on the outside.
Las Vegas Raiders Can’t Depend on the Draft for Wide Receiver Help
General manager Mike Mayock touched on the wide receiver position while at the Senior Bowl.
“People started to load up on Josh [Jacobs] and Darren [Waller]. Our offensive line is a big, strong, tough group that we’re happy with. But let’s be honest. If we’re going to take it to another level, that position has to get better.”
Mayock also went on to talk about how risky it is to draft a wide receiver in the first round. The recent history of wide receivers picked in the top 15 doesn’t bode well for a team needing an impact player. This is where Green comes in. The Raiders should double-dip in free agency and the draft at the position. Green has the best track record of potential number one receivers available in free agency. He’s been more dominant than Emmanuel Sanders and has shown more versatility than Robby Anderson. The former Bengal would immediately slot in as the Raiders number one receiver. Green has also been a pro’s pro in Cincinnati even when things haven’t gone well. After dealing with he who shall not be named in the 2019 preseason, Raider Nation would be happy to deal with a receiver who isn’t well known for his erratic behavior.
This isn’t to say that Green would be a perfect acquisition for Las Vegas. He’s only played in nine games over the past two seasons after missing the 2019 season completely. Injuries are absolutely a concern. So is his age. Green will be 32 years old when the 2020 season kicks off. This is why Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock still need to target a wide receiver in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Las Vegas Still Needs to Draft a Receiver Early
With Green’s age and recent injuries, the Raiders would definitely need more in the receiver’s room. They should still make a run at one of the draft’s top wide receivers. The draft’s top receivers don’t mirror Green’s size and skillset close enough that they’d be redundant. If A.J. Green were to miss time they’d have a talented rookie to look to for a handful of games. If the rookie isn’t completely ready for primetime, the team has Green across from him. The best-case scenario is Green stays healthy and the draft pick meets expectations.
