Could Jordy Nelson be a Raider?
- Mar 14, 2018
- 3 min read
Jordy Nelson, a Green Bay Packers veteran has been released and is now amid the free agency frenzy. First stop, Oakland Raiders.
It’s no secret the Raiders struggled in 2017 offensively which was a disappointment given that their 2016 season saw them towards the top of the league both on offence and defence.
In 2016 Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree, the Raiders star Wide Receivers both boasted 1,000 yard seasons, that was not to be in 2017, in fact, their Tight End Jared Cook led the raiders in receiving yards with 688.
Whilst it is true that Cook led the team in receiving yards, that doesn’t change the fact that the Raiders base receivers were both Cooper and Crabtree playing on the outside and Seth Roberts playing primarily in the slot. The Wide Receivers group did receive some support during a free agency signing in early 2017 in the shape of Cordarrelle Patterson from the Vikings.
Patterson and Johnny Holton proved to be valuable assets for Derek Carr during the 2017 season, Holton especially downfield. However, with Carr also struggling in 2017 its difficult to say what the overall problem was, apart from the offense simply not gelling and doing what they needed to do.
So, Free Agency is here, its 2018. Do the Raiders need more Receivers?
I think the answer to that question is yes. Whilst they have Crabtree and Cooper who are considered elite receivers, they still seem to be lacking that leader and overall playmaker on the offence other than Derek Carr. I believe Jordy Nelson can offer them that. He has been in the league for 10 years this season, he was drafted in the 2nd round in 2008 by the Green Bay Packers. He has played with arguably the second-best quarterback in the National Football League in Aaron Rodgers and is a Super Bowl winner. With that comes composure, leadership and a mental toughness that is needed in today’s NFL’s. All of these traits could be beneficial to a struggling Raiders team.
In 2016 Nelson came back from an ACL injury and did so with a bang. He recorded 97 receptions for 1,257 yards and 14 touchdowns. That number of touchdowns led the NFL in 2016. For that season, he was ranked 48th in the NFL Top 100 Players of 2017.
2017 however was not so productive. He recorded 53 receptions for 482 yards and 6 touchdowns, his worst season since 2012. There were many questions over Nelson’s productivity and the cause of the drop-off, however I think one of the main factors for this was Aaron Rodgers was not under center. When a QB has a bond with a particular WR and that QB is no longer throwing him the ball, production starts to fall, especially putting someone like Brett Hundley under center, who isn’t considered an exceptional back-up. Do I think Nelson’s productivity declined because he no longer has the desire to play at the elite level which he has done his entire career, no and I think with a new team and a new lease of life, we will see the old Jordy Nelson from 2016 return in no time.
Carr needs reliable weapons, and I think with Nelson, he would get that. But no deal is done yet, this is all pure speculation based on the intent of a visit. So, keep an eye out for the moves Nelson makes this free agency.
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