The Raiders receiver corps fell into disrepair last season, after Amari Cooper was traded, Jordy Nelson was battling knee issue and several veteran subs ended up on injured reserve.
A complete positional overhaul was required. That has happened quickly, with two major additions in a less than a week.
The Raiders traded for elite receiver Antonio Brown on Saturday night. Then they agreed on terms of a contract with former L.A. Chargers wideout Tyrell Williams, a soure confirmed to NBC Sports Bay Area. ESPN's Adam Schefter was first to report the news. The Raiders made the deal official Wednesday night.
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Schefter reports the Raiders are giving Williams a four-year contract worth $44 million.
Williams was one of the top receivers available in free agency. He’s 6-foot-4, 205 pounds and runs like the wind. He had a 1,000-yard season in 2015 and has produced steadily ever since. He had 41 catches for 653 yards and five touchdowns on 65 targets, and averaged 15.9 yards per reception.
He’s a dynamic No. 2 option behind Brown, a clear-cut No. 1, and one of the NFL’s best receivers. The Raiders passing game has the talent required to produce steadily and show vast improvement over a 2018 unit devoid of speed outside tight end Jared Cook that averaged just 234 yards per game.
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Nelson would be a solid No. 3 if he is retained. The Raiders paid his 2019 roster bonus in the 2018 season. The team would save $3.5 million in cap space but incur $1.8 million in dead money. His salary becomes fully guaranteed on Friday.
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The Raiders could also let Seth Roberts go this offseason. He’s scheduled to make $4.65 million in 2019, and none of it is guaranteed.
The Brown-Williams combination is dangerous in its own right, and gives quarterback Derek Carr excellent weapons in the pattern. It looks better (on paper, anyway) that the Michael Crabtree-Amari Cooper duo from 2016, when both guys exceeded 1,000 yards.