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Las Vegas Raiders WR Tre Tucker.
With a new coaching staff coming in, the Las Vegas Raiders aren’t going to be too loyal to players who were on the roster before. General manager John Spytek might be attached to some of his draft picks from last year, but anybody before that can’t feel too safe.
The Raiders needed a wide receiver to step up last season after Jakobi Meyers got traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars. That player ended up being Tre Tucker. He led the team with 696 receiving yards and was second on the team with 57 receptions.
Tucker has always been an enticing deep threat due to his elite speed, but last season, he proved he could be a bit more. However, the Raiders signed Jalen Nailor in free agency, who is also noted for his speed. 2025 fourth-round pick Dont’e Thornton is a player the Raiders are going to want to see more of next season.
Plus, the team is likely to address wide receiver in the draft. Former superstar wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. was going over the Raiders’ wide receiver room, and he believes Tucker is the odd man out.
“I believe the outlier who may be on his way out, unfortunately, is Tre Tucker,” Smith said on NFL Network. “I don’t think he’s a well-rounded route runner who has advanced.”
Raiders Shouldn’t Move on From Tucker Yet
The Raiders can’t give up on Tucker quite yet. He’s a relentless worker and is well-liked by his teammates. He’s also a former third-round pick who is still on his rookie contract, so he doesn’t cost much.
Tucker hasn’t had a chance to play with a good quarterback in his career. Putting him in a better offense designed by head coach Klint Kubiak and giving him Fernando Mendoza to catch passes from, and he could turn out to be an impact player.
The Raiders shouldn’t just move on from a wide receiver who nearly had 700 receiving yards a season ago. If anything, they could potentially seek a trade for him if he’s no longer a fit. Dave Ziegler, former Raiders general manager, is now the assistant general manager for the Tennessee Titans. He drafted Tucker, and the Titans have a need at wide receiver. If Tucker is available, they would make sense as a trade partner.
Nailor Believes He’s a Fit With Raiders
Wide receiver was a huge need heading into the offseason, but Nailor wasn’t the biggest name available. However, he might be the most interesting.
Though Nailor has never had more than 444 receiving yards in a season, he believes he can break out in Las Vegas.
“Just the job that [Kubiak] has done throughout his whole career, and the guys that he has on his staff, it’s a very renowned coaching staff, and they have a lot of wisdom and experience behind them,” Nailor told Raiders media in a YouTube video. “That played a major role, and I just love what Kubiak does with his offense.”
“I think I fit great here,” Nailor added. “To be a veteran type of guy in the receiver room and just the type of player I am, I know that I can make an impact for this organization. I’m ready to make it happen.”