At one point, former Raiders WR Hunter Renfrow was one of the premiere slot receivers in the NFL. But the veteran has been a free agent for months after being cut earlier this offseason.
After a breakout 1,000-yard season in Las Vegas in 2021, Renfrow fell out of favor with former HC Josh McDaniels and the switch to interim HC Antonio Pierce didn’t improve his fortunes. Renfrow didn’t lose all the skills that made him a Pro Bowl slot receiver but injuries and lack of fit with the coaching staff limited his opportunities.
At his best, Renfrow was an incredible route runner and separator, particularly over the middle of the field. He’s mostly a possession receiver who won’t burn defenses over the top or pull away for big gains after the catch. But his ability to generate quick separation makes him a reliable third-down weapon.
That skill is valuable for offenses that put a premium on production from the slot receiver. Even this late in the offseason, Renfrow will likely still be looking for a place where he can be a starter or at minimum have more of a role than he did for the Raiders the past two years. Renfrow may have to wait until teams see what their rosters look like during training camp, but those opportunities should be there.
Renfrow, 28, is a former fifth-round pick of the Raiders back in 2019 out of Clemson. He was entering the final year of his rookie contract and would have been an unrestricted free agent in 2023 when the Raiders signed him to a two-year, $32 million contract extension that included $21 million guaranteed in 2022.
Renfrow was entering the final year of that deal when the Raiders released him.
In 2023, Renfrow appeared in 17 games and recorded 25 receptions for 255 yards (10.2 YPC) and no touchdowns.
We have him included in our Top 100 Available Free Agents list.
Saints
The Saints are running it back with QB Derek Carr after a disappointing first year in New Orleans. Carr was expected to elevate a strong Saints roster to conquer the eminently winnable NFC South. Instead, the Saints limped through another mediocre season, as they have every year since Drew Brees retired.
Despite continued calls from outside the building to enter a true rebuild, the Saints keep reloading in an effort to contend, and this year was no different. New Orleans patched several holes this offseason, but receiver could still be a weakness. Chris Olave is a stud and their No. 1 option. Rashid Shaheed has proven himself an electric playmaker and will get a chance in a bigger role in 2024. There are question marks behind those two.
Cedrick Wilson Jr. was signed to provide a veteran option alongside 2023 sixth-rounder A.T. Perry and journeyman Equanimeous St. Brown. Wilson had 600 yards and six touchdowns in Dallas in 2021 but could never really crack the rotation in Miami. Perry has a massive catch radius, while St. Brown is known more for special teams at this stage. None of them stand out as more than depth players at this point.
Renfrow would bring a very different skillset than the rest of the Saints’ receiving core. Olave wins on the outside and down the field with his speed and route-running, while Shaheed is also a major downfield threat due to his speed. A chain-moving possession receiver is exactly what the Saints are missing. Renfrow’s ability to get open in the short and intermediate areas of the field would be a boon to this offense.
The possession role was filled by Michael Thomas last year, and while he’s bigger than Renfrow, he and Carr were like oil and water. Carr is familiar with Renfrow from their time together in Las Vegas and the two had obvious chemistry on the field. A reunion would elevate this New Orleans offense and give them a slightly better chance of living up to expectations in 2024.
Vikings
With star WR Justin Jefferson just inked to a record deal, the Vikings can turn their attention to other roster concerns. There’s still a lot of talent on offense that’s overshadowed by the question mark at quarterback. Minnesota signed Sam Darnold as a bridge to first-round QB J.J. McCarthy, the quarterback of the future. Putting McCarthy in the best possible situation to succeed is paramount for the Vikings.
In addition to Jefferson, Minnesota also has 2023 first-round pick Jordan Addison, and together they form one of the best wide receiver duos in the country. Behind those two, however, there is a void, especially with TE T.J. Hockenson slated to miss a portion of the regular season while recovering from a major knee injury. Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell also runs a lot of 11 personnel, so the third receiver is basically a starting position.
Trent Sherfield and Brandon Powell are presumably the top options competing for the third receiver spot right now. The Vikings also have Jalen Nailor and Patriots castoff N’Keal Harry, but none of these players are solid starters. Despite his small stature, Addison primarily plays on the outside. The Vikings need a slot receiver.
Enter Renfrow, the best slot receiver on the market. He’d be the third-best receiver on this roster immediately and slide into the starting slot role. Renfrow’s separation ability, particularly over the middle of the field, would be huge for McCarthy or Darnold and help fill the void for however long Hockenson is out. Renfrow is reliable and quick and would help raise the floor of this Minnesota offense.
Cowboys
After yet another disappointing playoff exit, the Cowboys faced a pivotal offseason this year. They have consistently fielded one of the strongest rosters in the NFC over the last few seasons but needed to reload due to the constant attrition of age and injury. Not only that, but teams like the Packers, Lions, Rams and Seahawks have been gaining ground on Dallas in the conference.
However, Dallas didn’t do much of anything to address clear roster needs in free agency, citing budget concerns. That’s left notable weak spots at multiple positions, including wide receiver. CeeDee Lamb has blossomed into one of the league’s premiere receiving talents and Brandin Cooks is an excellent No. 2 option. Outside of those two, however, the Cowboys will be relying on players who don’t have a proven track record to step up.
Renfrow could provide Cowboys QB Dak Prescott with a reliable option over the middle of the field. Renfrow is renowned for his separation ability, and he’s a strong third down and red zone weapon as a result. He’s primarily a slot receiver but does have some flexibility to play on the outside from time to time, which would allow Lamb to slide inside in certain formations. Renfrow would raise the floor of this receiver room significantly.
For a team in Dallas with incredibly lofty goals in 2024, they’re taking a major risk not shoring up the third receiver spot on the depth chart. Renfrow would be a major upgrade over the likes of Jalen Tolbert or Tyron Johnson.
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