The Raiders will play out the remainder of the 2025 season without veteran wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (who was traded to the Jaguars on Tuesday) and it’s going to be interesting to see how the wide receiver room moves forward without him.
Meyers was considered the team’s no. 1 wide receiver, but CBS analyst Johnathan Vilma made an interesting statement last month about Tre Tucker actually being the team’s top wide receiver.
“That connection… between Geno [Smith] and Tre Tucker, he is their no. 1,” Vilma said on the CBS broadcast during the Titans game. “Jakobi Meyers, Chip Kelly may tell me that, but Jakobi Meyers is not no. 1, it’s Tre Tucker. Geno has a favorite guy and that’s him.”
Vilma’s comments raised an interesting discussion about who is really the Raiders’ no. 1 wide receiver and for entertainment purposes, let’s take a look at Geno Smith’ quarterback rating when throwing to each of his wide receivers, tight ends and running backs this year.
Starting from worst to first, using Pro Football Focus data, here’s a look at Smith quarterback rating to his primary targets over the first 8 games of the season…
Dont’e Thornton Jr.
Quarterback Rating: 8.1
On the season, Thornton has 5 receptions on 19 targets and has been, by far, the least productive wide receiver on the Raiders’ roster. Thornton is also the lowest graded wide receiver (53.5) on the roster and was a first-time guest on the inactive list in week 9 against the Jaguars.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Vinny Bonsignore talked about Thornton this week and he believes the rookie wide receiver has an uphill climb to get back into the role he had at the beginning of the season.
“I just think that Dont’e Thornton is pretty far away right now. And maybe, you know, he beats out Tyler Lockett and earns another shot to play that wide receiver position,” Bonsignore said on the Vegas Nation First and 10 podcast.
Jakobi Meyers
Quarterback Rating: 55.2
Meyers was targeted 48 times this year and recorded 33 receptions. His reception percentage was just over 68 percent and that mark was second-worst on the team behind only Thornton.
Four of Smith’s 11 interceptions this year were on passes intended for Meyers and the two didn’t connect for a single touchdown.
The Raiders were fortunate to get a fourth and sixth-round pick in exchange for that level of production.
Jack Bech
Quarterback Rating: 60.9
In a limited sample, Bech hasn’t put up great number, but he has caught 7 of the 9 passes thrown his way.
The assumption is that Bech is going to assume Meyers’ role in Chip Kelly’s offense and it will be interesting to see how that plays out.
The Raiders used a second-round pick on Bech so, in theory, he is going to get some time to develop.
Michael Mayer
Quarterback Rating: 64.3
Mayer filled in admirably while Bowers was recovering from a knee injury, but he doesn’t have the ability separate in coverage the way Bowers does.
Mayer has caught 15 of 21 targets from Geno Smith this year, but two interceptions on balls intended for Mayer hurts his rating.
Brock Bowers
Quarterback Rating: 119.2
It only took one week for a healthy Brock Bowers to remind everyone he is still the best tight end in the NFL.
The Raiders offense’ with Bowers healthy looked like a different unit and no one is happier to have him back than his quarterback.
Smith threw four touchdowns against the Jaguars in week 9. By far his best game of the season.
Tre Tucker
Quarterback Rating: 126.8
Tucker has been the Raiders’ best wide receiver in the first half of the season and it isn’t close.
Chip Kelly said a few weeks ago that Tucker has been the team’s best practice player and that has translated to 32 receptions, 427 receiving yards and four touchdowns in the first half of the season.
Tucker has caught 74.4 percent of passes thrown his way and that’s entering territory not far from Bowers (79.5).
Tucker (188) and Bowers (190) also lead the team in yards after catch this year.
Ashton Jeanty
Quarterback Rating: 129.3
No player on the Raiders’ roster has brought Smith a higher quarterback rating than Ashton Jeanty.
Jeanty was exceptional out of the backfield against the Jaguars (5 receptions, 47 receiving yards, 1 touchdown) and the Raiders would be wise to work Jeanty into the passing game as much as possible going forward.
Only a handful of players in the league are better in the open field than Jeanty and the Raiders need to keep him as the focal point of the running and the passing game whenever possible.
Everyone knows about Bowers, but if Smith continues to tap into the versatility of his first-round running back, he will become a more popular quarterback in a hurry.
x: @raidersbeat
What are championship teams made of and what makes up a losing teams? I have seen the Raiders win four AFC championships and three world championships, it is not rocket science all right. It comes down to the roster OK, championship teams have no weak links in the roster. Losing teams have weak links and subpar players as this team does. (It goes deeper than this with the Raiders now though as our team has a losing cultural at a systemic level.) A wining organization requires what we use to have but no longer do and this is good: ownership, a good GM, Head Coach and Quarterback. This team and company does not check mark any of these boxes.
Why Boycott? Well look, as long as our team is doing all that it can to win it makes since to support it. The Raiders up until the last two years always bid on top tier free agents and drafted the best players available. Coupon John Spytek and before him Tom Telsco are casting off our best players to free agency and are not retaining our better talent. We are no longer bidding on the better top tier A players or drafting anything but project players. This amounts to a team throwing in the towel, or giving up. At this point it is time to boycott because your team is no longer doing what is required to win. The Bronco fan base has boycotted creativley in the past and let that organization know losing is not OK there, it was effective. Losing is not acceptable here and we need creative ways to peacefully protest this failure and boycott, to send a message. John Spytek is going to have to draft and hit on a QB in this years draft if he he wants to be here and even get a third year here. His predessors did not get a third year and he won’t either if he does not do just this.
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