The Raiders aren’t expected to make an aggressive move at wide receiver before the start of the season, and a lot of that has to do with the fact that they spent draft picks on Jack Bech and Dont’e Thornton – both of whom have impressed in offseason activities.
The other element to the Raiders’ lack of panic at wide receiver is the presence of two versatile tight ends.
In the last year, the Raiders have spent first and second round picks on tight ends and Brock Bowers is already an All Pro at the position.
Bowers’ running mate, Michael Mayer, was rumored to be on the trade block a few months ago, but nothing materialized, and the expectation now is that he’ll have a legitimate role in Chip Kelly’s offense.
Mayer talked to members of the media this week and dropped a hint about Kelly’s offense and a couple of personnel packages the Raiders have been working on in the offseason.
“With me and Brock [Bowers], it’s pretty interesting because we do a lot of 12 personnel stuff,” Mayer said. “You know, this spring we’ve also been doing a lot of 13 personnel, too, which has been awesome. It’s been a lot of fun.”
If the Raiders plan to deploy multiple tight ends on a regular basis, the need for another wide receiver is even less urgent.
Bowers is one of the most versatile tight ends in the NFL and there’s a chance his role could be adjusted a little in 2025. When on the field with Bowers, Mayer could play a more conventional role at tight end and Bowers could split wide as a receiver.
Former Raiders’ GM Tom Telesco commented last week on Bowers’ ability to play wide receiver and tight end, and that dynamic was evident in his rookie year when he broke the all-time rookie receiving record (for any position) with 112 receptions.
As for the wide receiver room, the Raiders might add a veteran wideout in the months ahead, but it would be a surprise if they did anything ultra-aggressive like bringing in a player like Terry McLaurin.
x: @raidersbeat