3 Reasons the Raiders Should Sign Darius Slayton

Slayton has more career receiving yards than the entire Raiders’ wide receiver room. Across his seven seasons in the NFL, Slayton has hauled in 4,435 yards; the Raiders’ six wide receivers have totaled 3,063 yards.

If the Raiders added Slayton, he’d also be the only receiver on the team with at least 700 yards in one season.

The Raiders wide receiver group is one of the least proven in the NFL. Slayton, despite never having a 1,000-yard season, has been the leading receiver on an NFL team for a season. He would bring an immediate credibility jump.

Raiders Wide Receiver Struggles

In his first training camp as a head coach, coach Klint Kubiak only called out one position group for struggling: the wide receivers.

“We have to get a lot better, very fast,” Kubiak said of his wide receivers after the second preseason game. “We took a step backwards. Doesn’t mean we can’t go forward, but right now we are trying to find someone that is accountable and can help us on Sunday. Still looking.”

The Raiders cut Noah Brown in camp shortly after Kubiak’s pointed comments. But that alone didn’t fix the Raiders’ wide receivers.

Tre Tucker has had a solid start to his NFL career, but with 1,566 yards across three seasons, he is hardly a true number one wide receiver. Jalen Nailor has always been a tertiary — or worse — option in his career. Now he steps into the Raiders’ second wideout role.

Second-year Jack Bech and rookie Malik Benson are the next two in line and neither has anything at the NFL level.

Adding Slayton would give the Raiders some semblance of respectability at wide receiver.

Helping Kirk Cousins and Fernando Mendoza

Part of the Raiders’ logic for letting Fernando Mendoza sit on the bench to begin his career is tied to the rest of the roster. The Raiders aren’t that good, so sending Mendoza out to play behind a below-average offensive line and throw to a bad group of receivers might limit his ability to develop as a rookie.

Adding Slayton would at least increase the Raiders’ offensive talent. Whenever Mendoza gets a chance to play, he could be throwing to slightly better teammates.

The possible signing would also give Kirk Cousins a better chance to keep the starting job. In an ideal world, Cousins plays well enough to keep the Raiders in the playoff hunt while Mendoza sits. Slayton’s presence would make that easier.

The only downside to adding Slayton would be blocking playing time for younger players. Slayton is 29 years old and likely wouldn’t be part of the Raiders’ future.

While Slayton would give the Raiders better play at wide receiver, Bech, Benson and Dont’e Thornton all need to prove they can play in the NFL. Las Vegas needs to find out how much to invest in the position this offseason.

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