Tre Tucker made his NFL debut on Sunday during the Las Vegas Raiders’ 34-7 win over the San Francisco 49ers. He showed why he is a bit of heaven and hell for fans rooting for the young wideout. The first-year wide receiver had a mixed bag of results, showing flashes of promise but also some obvious weaknesses that have followed him from the college ranks.
As I said when he was drafted out of the University of Cincinnati by the Raiders in April, Tucker has so many positive qualities, but his small size and history of not holding onto the ball are a concern.
Tre Tucker showed off serious skills in the Raiders’ preseason opener
Getting some good early playing time against the 49ers on Sunday, Tucker was able to show off his athletic ability as he hopes to start working his way into the Raiders wide receiver rotation.
Tucker’s best play of the game came on a deep pass from quarterback Aidan O’Connell in the second quarter of Sunday’s game. The third-round pick was able to get behind the 49ers’ defense to seemingly make a leaping catch for a 34-yard gain. The play showed off Tucker’s speed and athleticism; two of his biggest strengths. Unfortunately, after San Francisco challenged the play, it was overturned as it appeared the ball was trapped against the turf.
And therein lies the problem with Tucker: he has trouble holding onto the ball. The pass from O’Connell was almost perfect on the sideline route, and with his smaller size, Tucker had to dive for the ball and could not prevent it from hitting the Allegiant Stadium turf. What would have been a big play for him and his team ended up being a flashy incompletion.
Tucker officially had just one reception for 15 yards on the day. At the same time, he showed the ability to make quick cuts and get open in traffic. Regrettably, he also had a few drops, which is something that he will need to improve on in the long run. That’s especially true if he wants to be a consistent contributor in the NFL and move up the Raiders depth chart.
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Mixed results sprinkled in with some “potential”
Overall, Tre Tucker’s NFL debut was a mixed bag. He showed flashes of promise, but he also had some glaring weaknesses. He will need to improve on both his route running and hands if he wants to be a consistent contributor for Las Vegas this season.
However, there is reason to be optimistic about Tucker’s future—there’s much potential to unlock. He has the speed, athleticism, and toughness to be a successful receiver in the NFL. However, the 22-year-old just needs to continue working hard and developing his skills. He’s far from a finished product, but as Raider Nation witnessed on Sunday, there’s something there.
The Raiders are a patient team, and they are willing to give Tucker time to develop. They have a lot of other talented receivers on their roster, so Tucker will not be rushed into the starting lineup. However, he has the potential to be a big part of the Raiders’ offense in the years to come.
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