Tre Tucker & the WR Situation

[NoThanksSir]

There is a situation developing with Tre Tucker that is going under the radar. Tucker is a FA this offseason, and while he leaves a lot to be desired in a #1WR after Bowers, he unfortunately is our best WR. I'm not his biggest fan by any means, but even if we take a WR with our 1st pick in 2027 we're still in a precarious situation if he were to walk in free agency. Rookie receivers, especially those taken outside of the top 10, are rarely immediate contributors. I'm skeptical that a Rookie+Nailor/Bech/etc. will produce better results than what we have now. This is even more pressing of an issue because Mendoza will be playing next year, and that is a god awful situation for our prized QB prospect to be walking into. I think even if we assume that first pick is a receiver, we need to consider that another move at WR will need to accompany that selection. That could be re-signing Tucker, going after a more expensive #1, or seeking out a veteran bandaid while a rookie receiver develops. Of course there is option D, none of the above. Which I personally think would be a recipe for disaster, as the other talent on this roster hasn't shown enough potential.

2027 FA WRs

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These are the options other than Tucker in 2027. One important thing to note, is that the only players on the list younger than Tucker are Marvin Mims and George Pickens (By 4 days). My theory is that Tucker is going to have a lot more interest than any of us realize, and might be more coveted by another team than he is by us. Right now Tucker is on pace for a career year. If he continues his average of 59 yards a game, he can reasonably finish the season around 1K yards. While I feel like he leaves a lot to be desired as a player, if we compare him to someone who recently signed a contract with similar career numbers, what could we learn about Tucker's value?

Control Group: Tre Tucker

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Ex 1: Michael Wilson, Cardinals, 26 Yrs old

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Last offseason Wilson signed a 3yr, $75 mill extension at an APY of $25mill a year. His age and numbers are very similar to Tucker's. On top of that, both players are having very similar years in 2026, you could argue Tucker is playing quite a bit better. But let's assume Wilson's contract is a product of a poor Cardinal's org. Let's move on to another example.

Ex 2. Christian Watson, Packers, 27 Yrs old

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Watson also signed an extension last year, this one at an APY of $23mill a year. His career production is similar to Tucker, he seems to be a better red zone player than Tucker is.

Ex. 3 Jakobi Meyers, Jaguars, 30 Yrs old

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This last comp is more of a stretch, but valid because he was in the building and we moved on from him due to a perceived lack of value when it came to a contract extension. I would argue Jakobi Meyers's $20 mill APY is Tucker's floor. I was one of the loudest when it came to Jakobi not being worth what he was going to get paid, and I think the greater conclusion to make here is that mid level WR's are being paid handsomely across the board for very little on field production. Tucker is currently outperforming Meyers in 2026.

So now we have established the general range for Tucker's comps are between $20-25 mill a year. If we decide the juice isn't worth the squeeze, it's worth taking a look at more expensive options while we're at it.

Ex. JSN, Drake London, & Zay Flowers

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All three of these players recently signed contracts at the following APYs ($42.2, 35.2, 35). The main two high end receiver targets for this upcoming offseason (If they hit the open market) will be Nacua and Pickens.

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London and Zay aren't remotely on the same level as Nacua or Pickens. I think JSN is the rare example of a guy setting the market and then defending his position as the #1, as he's clearly still the best WR in the league. Those other guys set the floor at $35.2 mill, but both Nacua and Pickens will probably be more in line with JSN's $42.2. So a roughly $18 mill price difference from Tucker's group.


There are some guys in between those two groups who might be worth a look as budgetary options, especially those older than Tucker. But I thought this would be an interesting enough way to kick off the discussion by showing what the WR market is looking like right now, so that we could reasonably put into context what it will cost us to improve the position next year. Is simply drafting a WR a good enough plan in 2027? Do you want to keep Tucker? Or maybe sign someone else?

[CWood24]

Amari Cooper was on our team in 2016 when we went 12-4 and made the playoffs.

We know

What I said was pure sarcasm

[mstrbass2000]

Not sure how much was Spy vs Carroll.

true ...meyer blocks and gets open, would have been a perfect wr2 for our team, which is why i wanna trade for josh downs a young slot reciver who has proven he can block and gets open

[NoThanksSir]

yes, holding on to draft capital has really helped the raiders over the last 20+ yrs but doing the same is the answer ...can anyone print out a list of raider greats drafted in the last 20+ yrs

ps id rather trade for all pro type players whom are still young and coming into their primes then waste another high round pick on a naother bust or avg player

This is such a lazy argument. Where's the list of the great FA signings since 2002 that led us to turning things around? For every failed draft pick there is an accompanying high priced FA failure. Nothing we done has worked, brother. It's not about whether drafting or FA is the right or wrong strategy. It's picking the right guy. I mean we have examples of the draft pick busting (DHB) but we also have examples of guys like Randy Moss, Davante Adams, who we paid handsomely, did nothing here, and went on to be better elsewhere. I really don't think the signs indicate Pickens is guaranteed to make this team better, so there is an argument against the system fit.

[heavyD]

I would rather re-sign Tucker than use a high pick on a WR. The Raiders really need to use their high picks to upgrade the trenches.

[mstrbass2000]

This is such a lazy argument. Where's the list of the great FA signings since 2002 that led us to turning things around? For every failed draft pick there is an accompanying high priced FA failure. Nothing we done has worked, brother. It's not about whether drafting or FA is the right or wrong strategy. It's picking the right guy. I mean we have examples of the draft pick busting (DHB) but we also have examples of guys like Randy Moss, Davante Adams, who we paid handsomely, did nothing here, and went on to be better elsewhere. I really don't think the signs indicate Pickens is guaranteed to make this team better, so there is an argument against the system fit.

NOW LOOK AT THE GMS IN CHARGE DURING THAT TIME

what would have happened if we had a great gm like les snead ...who regularly trades high draft picks away for pro bowl calibre players then grabs oline in the 3rd and 4th rds ...last time i looked top 5 oline, top offense, tough top defense for yrs

the draft is a 50/50 sum game, you draft em,pay em and hope it works ...the pro bowl player remains a proven pro bowl player for yrs then you can trade em off for more picks down the road

[mstrbass2000]

I would rather re-sign Tucker than use a high pick on a WR. The Raiders really need to use their high picks to upgrade the trenches.

tre tucker is gonna get paid and is nothing but a high end wr3, blows up a few times a yr and disappears, jack bech cant get seperation and at best is a wr4, nailor sucks, thorton sucks, white is a wr4 ...this team has the worst wr in the n.f.l, i wish we had kept meyers and paid him at least we would have a good wr2

ps we can go get josh downs for a 4th rd pick, kid has produced as a wr2 until this yr when the idiots in indy decided to sign keenan allen to steal half his targets ...that leaves sus with the great 1st rd pick to address oline (koltons replacement)

[NoThanksSir]

NOW LOOK AT THE GMS IN CHARGE DURING THAT TIME

what would have happened if we had a great gm like les snead ...who regularly trades high draft picks away for pro bowl calibre players then grabs oline in the 3rd and 4th rds ...last time i looked top 5 oline, top offense, tough top defense for yrs

the draft is a 50/50 sum game, you draft em,pay em and hope it works ...the pro bowl player remains a proven pro bowl player for yrs then you can trade em off for more picks down the road

Goal posts constantly shifting with you. Do I throw out the results of the last 20 years or use them? You use them when it suits your argument and disregard them when it doesn't. Your assertion that pro bowl players remain pro bowl players elsewhere is simply untrue. It's not a guarantee, I don't have the exact odds but I'll say it's a 50/50 sum game to use your logic.

[heavyD]

tre tucker is gonna get paid and is nothing but a high end wr3, blows up a few times a yr and disappears, jack bech cant get seperation and at best is a wr4, nailor sucks, thorton sucks, white is a wr4 ...this team has the worst wr in the n.f.l, i wish we had kept meyers and paid him at least we would have a good wr2

ps we can go get josh downs for a 4th rd pick, kid has produced as a wr2 until this yr when the idiots in indy decided to sign keenan allen to steal half his targets ...that leaves sus with the great 1st rd pick to address oline (koltons replacement)

Tucker is 19th in receiving yards and top 10 in yards per reception. If he's a high end WR3 then what does that say about the WR1's on 12+ teams that have produced less than him this season?

[NoThanksSir]

Tucker is 19th in receiving yards and top 10 in yards per reception. If he's a high end WR3 then what does that say about the WR1's on 12+ teams that have produced less than him this season?

He's arguing vibes, not reality. Even the example he is using against drafting a receiver (George Pickens) is flawed because the best receiver on his team was drafted by the Cowboys. Actually, every receiver in the top 10 in receiving yards was drafted by their current team.

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Now I'm not against signing a bandaid in FA and using our 1st rounder elsewhere, god knows both lines need some help. But to Pew Pew drafting a WR when that is literally the most surefire way of getting an elite receiver is nonsensical.

[DanKD]

Youre using the Rams which is the best example of a team making key trades for veterans. What you are missing is they were already a superbowl contender and the trades were to put them over the top. No successful NFL teams are built that way.

The most recent dynasties Chiefs and Patriots are known for trading away players or letting them walk for draft picks, not the other way around. You need to put down the Madden and join reality.

[mstrbass2000]

Tucker is 19th in receiving yards and top 10 in yards per reception. If he's a high end WR3 then what does that say about the WR1's on 12+ teams that have produced less than him this season?

boom/ bust types blow up a few times a yr but they always disappear again, you know amari cooper used to do the same and end up with 1000 yds and high avg per catch but they alway lacked td production

ps how was tre tucker yesterday ??? the game before that ???

2 rec 24 yds
5 rec 119 yds
4 rec 43 yds
4 rec 44 yds
4 rec 41 yds
5 rec 97 yds
5 rec 103 yds
0 rec 0 yds
4 rec 55 yds

wr3 !!!

[ALLRAIDERWORLD21]

I understand that plays are scripted in the 1st quarter but Tucker continues to get open on throws to Bowers. Im not saying to stop throwing to Bowers obviously but part of his contribution is making the defense key on him which allows Tucker, and other WRs, to leak open down field. The first three and out there was an overthrow to Bowers while Tucker was breaking open on the deep post. These are throws Mendoza can hit on easier then Cousins I believe and will make the offense even more lethal in the future.

[mstrbass2000]

He's arguing vibes, not reality. Even the example he is using against drafting a receiver (George Pickens) is flawed because the best receiver on his team was drafted by the Cowboys. Actually, every receiver in the top 10 in receiving yards was drafted by their current team.

wr's.png

Now I'm not against signing a bandaid in FA and using our 1st rounder elsewhere, god knows both lines need some help. But to Pew Pew drafting a WR when that is literally the most surefire way of getting an elite receiver is nonsensical.

i am against us drafting a wr in teh first cause we need to address kolton millers age before he falls off (soon) i am 100 pct for us getting a wr1 or even multiple wr2's in free agency or via trade, our current wrs are all wr3 or worse

[mstrbass2000]

I understand that plays are scripted in the 1st quarter but Tucker continues to get open on throws to Bowers. Im not saying to stop throwing to Bowers obviously but part of his contribution is making the defense key on him which allows Tucker, and other WRs, to leak open down field. The first three and out there was an overthrow to Bowers while Tucker was breaking open on the deep post. These are throws Mendoza can hit on easier then Cousins I believe and will make the offense even more lethal in the future.

i think this one had more to do with getting rid of it quickly to his number 1 target more then him missing an open tucker (target progression)

[Attyla]

First off, I am not interested in other people's trash. Second, we are growing a team. We will draft a good receiver or two in the draft to grow with our young talent. Mendoza and Bowers and the rest need to form a nucleus much like how Indy under Manning or Dallas under Aikman. Patience is the key to this. The demands that we give up picks to satisfy someone's sweet tooth is not the answer. Those picks have already begun to generate positive results on both sides of the ball. Mistakes will happen but that is part of the maturation process. This season is a mirage even under .500. Let's get to the finish line and build this right.