The NFL trade deadline is right around the corner on Oct. 31, and one potentially active team is the Las Vegas Raiders. Now 3-4 on the season, it's do-or-die time. Vegas either needs to commit to the future or commit to the present.
One surefire trade candidate is 27-year-old slot receiver Hunter Renfrow. Only two years removed from a 100-reception and 1,000-yard season in 2021, Renfrow has been virtually excised from the Raiders' offense. He has eight receptions and 73 yards in seven weeks of action.
Not great, Bob.
According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Raiders and Renfrow are both motivated to get a trade done. Renfrow has "never been on the same page" as Raiders coach Josh McDaniels and it's clear another team would have more use for the Clemson product, now a full year removed from last season's spate of injuries.
Here are a few trades to land Renfrow and his $13.1 million contract in a new home.
3. Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns' passing attack will remain limited so long as Deshaun Watson is the QB, but the Browns have a lot invested in Watson. It therefore makes sense to re-team Watson with his favorite college target. Renfrow made his bones alongside Watson at Clemson, and there's reason to believe the Browns' tepid offense would benefit from such a steady set of hands.
Renfrow struggled mightily last season in the wake of injuries, but he made the Pro Bowl in 2021. He's the ideal slot receiver on paper — a 5-foot-10 speedster who deploys precise route-running and sticky hands to control the middle of the field.
Amari Cooper and Elijah Moore provide adequate value atop the Browns' depth chart, but Cleveland doesn't have the deepest WR room. Renfrow should be eligible for a healthy target share, especially considering his built-in chemistry with Watson. Renfrow caught 11 touchdowns in two seasons next to Watson at Clemson. Perhaps he could reinvigorate the Browns' red zone attack.
Considering the contract specifics — Renfrow is due a healthy $13.1 million this season and $13.7 million next season, with a team opt-out option — it shouldn't take much for Cleveland to land him. He's a short-term investment on a contract the Raiders are making poor use of. So, it's a cheap boost to the Browns' offense to further help Cleveland's top-ranked defense.
2. Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are expected to shop third-year WR Tarrace Marshall, who has been lightly used in the new-look offense next to No. 1 pick Bryce Young. In fact, the Panthers' WR room in general is a mess. Jonathan Mingo, a recent second-round pick like Marshall, has also been an afterthought more than a primary weapon.
A lot of the Panthers' receiving struggles can be chalked up to Young's general inexperience. He continues to target veteran Adam Thielen early and often, but the Panthers would no doubt prefer to have more than one consistent receiving threat on the roster. If Young is more inclined to lean on veteran safety valves, Renfrow could bring a great deal to the Carolina offense.
Renfrow might balk at the idea of joining the worst team in football, but the 0-6 Panthers would offer him a clear path to reps and targets in a contract year. Young has a certain level of arm talent and football I.Q. — he was the No. 1 pick for a reason — so there's a path to a fruitful partnership for Renfrow.
Carolina doesn't need to add a bunch of vets. This year is about rebuilding and going for the No. 1 pick, again. That said, it would certainly be smart to invest in your top-pick QB. That means getting him a more useful set of weapons on offense. If Renfrow helps Young, he helps the Panthers short and long-term.
1. New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints fell to 3-4 on Thursday Night Football. The offense around Derek Carr is simply not in line with expectations. Many projected NOLA as the runaway favorites in the NFC South. Right now, the Saints land in third place, ahead of only the winless Panthers.
This is another natural reunion for Renfrow, who spent his entire NFL career next to Derek Carr until 2023. It was Carr who established a Pro Bowl connection with Renfrow in 2021. If ever there was a win-win trade for player and team, this feels like it. Renfrow gets to reunite with his favorite QB on a team still positioned to contend for a postseason spot. The Saints, with an offense in dire need of a reboot, land Carr one of his most reliable targets.
Chris Olave and Michael Thomas were supposed to dominate in tandem. The Saints have still managed explosive passing numbers — Carr loves to air out the football and there's no denying the talent in the New Orleans WR room — but the offense cannot execute in the red zone. The Saints have trouble executing the simple plays and converting on golden opportunities. Renfrow is a tried and true set of hands who Carr knows and trusts under stressful conditions.
There is still time for the Siants to get this season turned around. The first-place Falcons aren't exactly some insurmountable foe. All it takes is a first-place finish in the NFL's weakest division and some postseason luck. New Orleans spent a lot to bring Carr into the mix. Now, the Saints can double down with Carr's former favorite target.
