Three years ago, Hunter Renfrow looked like he was on the verge of becoming the NFL’s next great slot receiver.
Renfrow’s 103 receptions for 1,038 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in 2021 earned the “Slot Machine” a trip to the Pro Bowl and an endorsement from one of the league’s best safeties.
“He’s different,” Chargers’ safety Derwin James said after the 2021 season. “Nah, he ain’t no encyclopedia salesman. Turn the film on. You watch film, don’t you? He’s underrated. You have to give him credit. He’s good. You better guard him.”
But three years after all the hype, it’s a mystery why Renfrow suddenly became an afterthought in the Raiders’ offense.
Was it injuries?
Was it the addition of Josh McDaniels?
It was definitely something, and someone who has been around the Raiders and Renfrow since he was drafted in 2019 said this week there’s more to the story than what is known to the public.
Speaking on Renfrow’s end with the Raiders, these were JT The Brick’s comments this week on his Raider Nation Radio show…
“There’s a lot more to that story that will come out in years to come on why he didn’t evolve as a better player under the former regime. What happened with him? How could you take a guy with 100-plus receptions, give him a contract, then he’s kinda not involved in the gameplan. That’s a really deep dive and I think people are going to need some time apart before people start talking about that and people say what happened.
It’s not a conspiracy theory. It’s just a shame. It’s a shame that Hunter Renfrow did not play here for a number of more years and continue to excel in a system that… he should be able to fit in every system because he’s a slot receiver and that’s unfortunate.”
JT didn’t elaborate on the story in more detail, but the “former regime” mention definitely stands out in his statement.
Did something happen during the McDaniels years that changed the course of Hunter’s career?
Inquiring minds would love to know.
twitter: @raidersbeat
McDaniels ruined Renfrow and Jacobs.
McClown was the Worst THING (he does not deserve in Any way the Moniker of Coach) that could EVER happen to a Franchise. Even the Aforementioned JT the Dick, who was once GREAT, bowed down to the Clown in order to Protect his own check from the Raiders. I don’t blame him for putting himself ahead of the Fans BUT, if you remember he kept saying that He knows the McClown Plan and it’s Good!! Whoops… Renfrow was not the Only one destroyed. The “plan” was to get rid of ALL of the Team Leaders so that He would be the Only Voice. Not so good… Look at all the Players that were dumped from a Playoff team…
Just reading the surface, it sounds to me like mcdanials , ruined another good players career.
Everyone Renfrow got the ball. I would hold my breath. He would either get crushed and fumble the ball or he would just get crushed and hurt. He’s small and not built like other receivers his size.
If the Saints sign him you’ll definitely see who was the problem and it ain’t Renfro.
I liked Hunter Renfrow and the clutch way he played. Soemthing dark within the terrible Mc Daniel era must have tarnished him and his ascending reputation. Would love to hear more from the “inside” on this . an unfortunate casualty of the arrogant autocratic “King Mc Daniels” era. He’ll land some where.
The fumble in OT vs Cardinals where he got concussion is my guess. McDaniels never trusted him again.
It’s definitely a bad move getting rid of Renfrow! This and Jacobs being let go are early signs that the Raiders did not make the right pick for their new GM. Both were top notch guys at their respective positions. We will watch these two help take another team to the playoffs. Addition by subtraction in this case is plain stupid!