The Las Vegas Raiders addressed the receiver room on multiple occasions in the 2025 NFL Draft with the additions of Jack Bech and Dont’e Thornton to help surround new quarterback Geno Smith with pass catching weapons in his first year with his new team.
Well, one Raiders trade pitch would see a breakout WR from the 2024 join the Las Vegas passing attack this season.
Raiders Trade Pitch Sees WR Jauan Jennings Head to Las Vegas
Brandon Austin of PFSN recently dropped 10 potential trades that could happen ahead of the 2025 NFL season, which included a scenario where the Raiders acquire WR Jauan Jennings from the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for Tre Tucker and a third round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Austin wrote, “The Las Vegas Raiders, now led by Pete Carroll and new quarterback Geno Smith, have bolstered most of their offensive positions but still need a proven perimeter receiver to complement Jakobi Meyers and second-year tight end Brock Bowers. Jauan Jennings showcased his potential in 2024, recording 77 catches, 975 yards, and six touchdowns.”
Jennings had a breakout year with the 49ers in 2024 after Brandon Aiyuk suffered a season-ending knee injury and Deebo Samuel’s per touch efficiency dropped significantly last year.
The Raiders have two quality pass catching weapons in the passing attack with Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers but not a ton of proven production outside of those two players.
Austin added, “Jennings’ physical style and blocking are well-suited to the Raiders’ offense, which will likely emphasize the ground attack after drafting Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty.”
One of the reasons Jennings is even a potential trade option is because he is seeking a new contract from the 49ers. If San Francisco is unwilling to give the veteran receiver a new deal, a trade could come to fruition.
Austin commented on how Raiders are well-positioned from a salary cap perspective to acquire Jennings by detailing, “Las Vegas is positioned to trade for Jennings thanks to its $48.6 million cap space, which easily absorbs his projected salary and allows room for an extension. A package of a third-round pick and a promising but inconsistent receiver like Tre Tucker feels right for Jennings, considering he’s coming off a strong campaign but hasn’t proven he’s a WR1.”
Other Veteran WR Options the Raiders Could Consider Ahead of the 2025 NFL Season
If the Raiders aren’t able to swing a deal for Jennings, then some other veteran pass catchers Las Vegas could consider adding to the roster would be Keenan Allen or Amari Cooper.
Cooper started his career with the Raiders and amassed 225 receptions for 3,183 yards and 19 touchdowns over his four seasons with the organization. Unfortunately, the Alabama product is coming off of the worst year of his NFL career with just 44 receptions for 547 yards and four scores after being traded from the Cleveland Browns to the Buffalo Bills last year.
Similarly, Allen has a lengthy track record of production but is also coming off a down year in 2024.
The decision from the Raiders’ front office to potentially pursue one of these two players in free agency could largely depend on the performance of the younger receivers on the roster this preseason.
