It’s incredible the difference a year can make. At this time last season, it was fair to wonder if Nelson Agholor’s time in the NFL might be up. After a few disappointing seasons to end his career in Philadelphia, Agholor hit free agency with little interest. Eventually, the Raiders would sign the former first-round pick at the veteran minimum.
Entering the 2021 offseason, Agholor is suddenly a hot commodity. He’s coming off a 900-yard season where he caught eight touchdowns and averaged nearly19 yards per reception. At just the age of 27, he’s in the middle of his prime and is a high-end No. 2 wide receiver, at worst.
But just how strong will the market be for Agholor in March? In a recent article by Pro Football Focus, the former USC star ranked as the No. 60 overall free agent entering 2021. Here is a snippet of their thoughts on Agholor from last year:
“His 2020 campaign with Las Vegas has netted similar production, albeit in a different role. Agholor has become a legitimate downfield threat for the Raiders, posting career-highs in yards, and touchdowns while dwarfing his career yards per reception numbers with a 17.9 mark. The question is whether Agholor can sustain his success, and that question is better asked of him in a complementary role rather than a feature one.”
Given that he is a bit of a one-year wonder, it wouldn’t be a total shock if Agholor didn’t garner a ton of interest in free agency. He should see multiple offers between $5-7 million per season, but don’t expect many teams to pay him more than that.
For that reason, it feels likely that he returns to the Raiders in 2021. He’s a strong fit in Jon Gruden’s offense and it’s clear that Derek Carr trusts him. Look for the Raiders to lock up their top receiver early on in free agency in a few months.
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