Potential options to replace the recently retired Michael Gallup
Training camp started with a surprise for the Las Vegas Raiders as Michael Gallup, a free-agent signing after the draft, opted to retire. Gallup was expected to be the fourth wide receiver on the Raiders’ roster, leaving the team with a small hole on the depth chart. Also, Jalen Guyton, another post-draft pickup, began camp on the PUP list.
While general manager Tom Telesco subsequently brought in wideouts Terrell Bynum and Keelan Doss, Las Vegas does have a few other options available in free agency who might be worth bringing in for a workout at the least.
Julio Jones
The 35-year-old is well past his prime and isn’t nearly as explosive as he used to be, evidenced by logging just 11 catches for 74 yards last season. However, Jones could be a decent red zone threat off the bench as he has managed to come down with five touchdowns over the last two years and has been solid on contested catches. That could pique the Raiders’ interest seeing as they’ve struggled to score inside the 20 for a few years.
Hunter Renfrow
A familiar face as the Raiders let Renfrow go at the beginning of the offseason. Injuries seemed to get the best of him over the last couple of years as his production took a steep drop off since his 2021 Pro Bowl campaign. Still, it might be worth bringing the slot receiver into camp, especially since he has some familiarity with Aidan O’Connell.
Michael Thomas
Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images
The common theme here is older veterans whose best years are behind them as that’s primarily who is available at this stage in free agency. Thomas falls into that category, but he did manage to log 39 catches for 448 yards in 10 games last season before suffering another injury. If Las Vegas thinks a smaller workload can help keep him healthy, then the 31-year-old would be worth bringing in for camp as he also can be a red zone threat with his contested catch skills.
Robbie Chosen
Chosen (formerly Anderson) has logged a reception of over 50 yards in each of his eight NFL seasons. While his route tree is limited, the veteran can still run as he’s hauled in catches of 68 and 75 yards over the last two years. He’d be a solid option if the Raiders want to add another deep threat behind Tre Tucker.
Russell Gage
After tearing a patellar tendon during training camp last season, Gage didn’t get any action during the 2023 regular season. He’s another guy who the medical staff will need to take a look at before ink even gets close to meeting paper, but the former Buccaneer and Falcon had a pretty productive four-year stretch from 2019 to 2022. During that timeframe, he logged 238 receptions, 2,428 yards and 14 touchdowns while having nearly a 50/50 split between the slot and out wide.
Richie James
James is in a similar boat as Gage where an injury limited his time on the field last season and thus, led to underwhelming numbers. But the 28-year-old (turns 29 next month) did have a solid two-year run with the 49ers and Giants in 2022 and 2020, putting up 80 catches for 963 yards and five touchdowns. For the year in between, a knee injury in camp kept him off the field. Also, James spent last season with the Chiefs, so it could be worth it to pick his brain on the Silver and Black’s biggest rival.