dareke young
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New Las Vegas Raiders WR Dareke Young.
The Las Vegas Raiders are starting to get back on track in free agency now that it seems like Maxx Crosby is just going to stay with the team this season. They have less salary cap space to work with than they were expecting, so it’s likely smaller deals for them the rest of the offseason.
The Raiders did already sign one wide receiver in Jalen Nailor, but they’re adding another one. SportsTrust Advisors announced on social media that their client, wide receiver Dareke Young, has signed a contract with the Raiders.
SportsTrust Advisors
Young has been in the NFL since 2022, when he was a seventh-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks. He spent four years with the team, but has never had more than two catches in a season.
He worked under new Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak last season, and the two won a Super Bowl together. Though he has never put up big numbers, Kubiak must have seen something that he likes in Young.
He does have good speed, as he ran a 4.44 40-yard dash before coming into the NFL. He also has experience returning kicks last season, so perhaps Kubiak likes him on special teams. Young likely won’t be a high-volume wide receiver for the Raiders, but the fact that they signed him this early in free agency suggests that Kubiak has some kind of plan for him.
Nailor Talks Return to Las Vegas
Nailor is going to be a very interesting player to watch this season. He’s talented, but he didn’t get a chance to make too many plays with the Minnesota Vikings due to the fact that they’re so top-heavy at wide receiver.
Nailor grew up in Las Vegas, so joining the Raiders was a logical move for him.
“Just talking about it with my agent, we started to feel like this could be the right fit for me and the best fit to show what I can do on the field,” Nailor said at his introductory press conference. “It means the most to me, just to be able to come back to a familiar place. Got tons of connections here to just people that I’ve known growing up, and it’s just a blessing to be here.”
He’s had to be away from the city for years, but he’s eager to help grow the sports scene in Las Vegas.
“I’m excited to see the city growing as much as it’s grown since I’ve been here,” Nailor said. “I think it’s taken the right direction, especially with this organization, with this coaching staff, I think we’re going to set the bar high with how we want professional sports here in Las Vegas to be.”
Nailor Feels Like He Fits Kubiak’s Offense
Kubiak did very good work with the wide receivers on the Seahawks last season. The Raiders don’t have the biggest names at the position, but Nailor is excited to see what he can do in the system.
“Just having that ability to play multiple positions in the offense, move around, motions and things like that,” Nailor said. “I feel like with (Klint) Kubiak’s offense, he does that very well with the guys trying to get them the ball and move them around. And I feel like that’s going to play right into my skill set.”