Las Vegas Looking To Trade Hunter Renfrow

The Las Vegas Raiders’ offense has been extremely disappointing. The team reached the 20-point mark for the first time last week against the New England Patriots, and that was only due to a last-second safety. This has come as a surprise considering the talent they have on that side of the ball, including what was viewed as one of the best receiver trios in the NFL in Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers and Hunter Renfrow.

Two years ago, Renfrow made the Pro Bowl and was viewed as arguably the best slot receiver in the NFL. Last year he dealt with injuries that hampered him, but he came into this year completely healthy and looking good during training camp. But he has just six catches through the team’s first six weeks.

It looks as if Renfrow just isn’t fitting with the Raiders, and as such, Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz reports that the team is trying to trade the receiver:

“I can tell you the Raiders want to trade Hunter Renfrow,” Schultz said.

“I don’t think Hunter Renfrow wants to be there either. The problem is [that] he makes a lot of money… Really it comes down to finding a home for him and actually having a team absorb that salary. I don’t know if the Raiders would take some of that salary themselves, but as things stand right now, the reason Hunter Renfrow hasn’t traded isn’t because teams don’t want him… the problem is finding team that’s willing to absorb that contract.”

Renfrow’s lack of production is pretty confusing. McDaniels’ offense has traditionally been great for slot receivers in the mold of Renfrow, and even in the contest in which Meyers sat out due to a concussion, Renfrow still saw no uptick in activity. Running backs Josh Jacobs and Ameer Abdullah, as well as rookie tight end Michael Mayer all have more targets than Renfrow.

The Raiders trying to move on from him makes sense, as he clearly is not in the team’s plans anymore under McDaniels. Renfrow did sign a two-year extension prior to the 2022 season and has a cap hit of over $13 million this year, so, as Schultz said, it could be tough for the Raiders to find a team to take on that contract.

But if Renfrow and the Raiders are on the same page in wanting a split, the franchise will surely look to do what is necessary to move on from the receiver.

Brian Hoyer to start for Raiders at Chicago on Sunday

Raiders quarterback Brian Hoyer will start on Sunday against the Bears.

With Jimmy Garoppolo injured, Hoyer will get the start at Chicago, according to multiple reports. Officially, Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels has refused to say whether Hoyer or rookie Aidan O’Connell will start in place of Garoppolo.

When Garoppolo missed the Raiders’ Week Four game against the Chargers, it was O’Connell who started. But since then Hoyer has moved ahead of O’Connell on the depth chart: When Garoppolo exited last week’s game against the Patriots, McDaniels sent Hoyer in to replace him. Hoyer played well in limited action in that game, and that apparently solidified McDaniels’ belief that Hoyer gives his team the best chance to win.

If McDaniels were looking to build the Raiders for the future, starting the rookie O’Connell over the 38-year-old Hoyer would make sense. But McDaniels is prioritizing winning now for the 3-3 Raiders, and the Bears, who are starting rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent in place of the injured Justin Fields, are a very beatable opponent.