MARCH 14: As expected, the Garoppolo release will be classified as a post-June 1 cut. The Raiders will pick up $24MM in cap space (via The Athletic’s Vic Tafur) as a result, though the money will not be available for nearly three months, and the designation will spread out the dead cap stemming from the 2023 signing over two offseasons.
MARCH 13: The Raiders’ Jimmy Garoppolo release will come to pass today, but the Silver and Black are also moving on from another offensive cog who has not lived up to his contract. They are set to release Hunter Renfrow, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports. The team has since made the Renfrow and Garoppolo releases official as well.
Given a two-year, $32MM deal during the 2022 offseason, Renfrow strangely fell out of favor while on that contract. Trade efforts last year producing no deal will lead to the veteran slot receiver becoming a street free agent today. Renfrow was set to earn an $11.2MM base salary next season.
Although the Raiders did not get much out of the Clemson alum following his 1,000-yard season — which played a central role in their Rich Bisaccia-overseen playoff berth — they will save more than $8MM with this release. Since his 1,038-yard 2021 slate, Renfrow has combined for just 585 yards over the past two seasons. This will go down as a notable mistake during the brief Josh McDaniels era, as Renfrow proved ill-fitting in the Raiders’ most recent offensive scheme despite McDaniels and Dave Ziegler signing off on the extension.
The Raiders shopped Renfrow at the 2023 deadline, doing so as Mark Davis became resigned to another staff overhaul. Prior to the McDaniels and Ziegler firings, they could not convince any team to take on Renfrow’s remaining base salary. Las Vegas did not want to eat any salary to move Renfrow last year. The team resumed its effort to trade the former Jon Gruden draftee this offseason, but nothing came to pass. Renfrow, 28, will join Tyler Boyd and Curtis Samuel among available slot receivers on the market.
Renfrow poses as an interesting candidate for a bounce-back deal, given his production under Gruden and down the stretch in 2021. The former fifth-round pick strung together back-to-back 600-plus-yard seasons in 2019 and ’20, becoming the Raiders’ top complement — as their Antonio Brown move combusted before the 2019 season — to Darren Waller in those years. With Waller sidelined for a chunk of the 2021 stretch run, Derek Carr turned to Renfrow as his top chain-mover. The Saints would profile as a potentially interested party, but Renfrow has not put much in the way of quality on tape over the past two seasons.
Decent buy low candidate. Panthers make sense as a slot guy for Young.
Could also head to Dallas as a dark horse destination for a cheap veteran addition.
Steelers should be in on HR.
He didn’t live up to the contract because they didn’t throw him the ball. His catch rate was great they just didn’t give him targets.
Yeah, agreed. He’d be a good addition
Buffalo or Jacksonville
Jacksonville needs guys who can play on the outside and not create another traffic jam for slot snaps.
Same as Buffalo.
We need a guy who can play opposite Diggs.
Shakir has earned the slot spot next season.
I’d be surprised if Buffalo would be in with the cap requirements. Better off drafting a worthy prospect in round one.
Renfrow isn’t a star but he can be a perfect #2 type for almost any team. Guy just plays hard and knows how to get open despite average athleticism. He’s very much in the Edelman type of build where he can’t carry a team’s receiving corps but if you put an elite WR or TE in front of him he’ll more than deliver. I don’t think he was fully recovered after suffering a concussion in week 2 of the 2022 season and last year McDaniels just didn’t give him any playing time and the only two players who saw any receiving work were Adams and Meyers until McDaniels was fired.
As a Raider fan I see him as a #3. I know a majority of the Raider Nation love this guy but he hasn’t been the same since that massive hit (and fumble) he took against the Cardinals in OT that cost the Raiders the game.
As a Raider fan, I’d say a solid #3. I’d like to see the Raiders re-sign him for cheaper, even though this might be a good draft to look for cheaper WRs.
I agree. If the price is right why not. Who I’d like to replace him via the draft is the WR from Florida via AZ State. Ricky Persall (spelling)
I like Renfrow when he’s on his game, but he’s not a number 2 receiver at this stage.
Gotta disagree. Jakobi is a #2. Hollywood Brown is a #2. Tee Higgins is a #2 Hunter is a #3. That’s not a knock. It’s just reality. I get the love the nation has for this guy but to be a true #2 you gotta be a #1 IF the #1 goes out. The three I mentioned can be #1s and have been inn that case . Hunter cannot step in to be a #1. It is what it is.
I think you may have misread my comment. I don’t think he’s a number 2. I’m not even positive he’s a number 3 right now.
Mad bad bro. I did misread that big time.
Forgot about his concussion. Still he seemed to be a good 3rd down ‘find an open and make a catch’ kinda WR.
What’s the point of clearing cap room if you’re not signing guys left and right?
So what, you want them to keep Jimmy G? They made one of the biggest signings so far, and they definitely have moves still ahead of them.
Jimmy G has no use to the team, Renfrow certainly does. Raiders have signed 1 guy and lost several, which is why I am asking why they are cutting a WR they can still use when they certainly have not signed any FA WR’s. They have tons of cap room.
Renfrow certainly does? He has less than 600 yards the last two years combined, they stopped using him in the return game, and he was slated to earn $11 million. Why would they keep him? He can only play in the slot, and they already have other guys they can play there before making any additions. And they still have more important places to spend their money than a third receiver, like right tackle and corner.
And they still have more important places to spend their money than a third receiver, like right tackle and corner.
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I say this with a smile on my face, but when was the last time we could say that we only needed two positions? We could literally draft or sign two guys and have a real team.
I mean, they could also use a long-term QB, another running back, another linebacker, and another interior lineman on both sides of the ball, but right tackle and outside corner are the most pressing needs right now, I’d say.
Or a new owner?
Gotta trim the fat. Just another cap casualty.
Use that money for a needier position….
Darn it. I thought we had signed Wilkins?
I’m guessing New Orleans with his buddy Derek
This has Saints written all over it.
He’ll be a Chief
Still has some juice and he fell to the wayside after the meyers and Addams signings. I think Bills Panthers Titans or Eagles would be a solid fit
Buccanners need to find a way to sign him
I think he is pretty good
Or maybe the Saints will pick him up, because Jon Gruden has a bit of say in New Orleans
If the Bucs are going to invest in a slot-only guy, why not just bring back Gage?
Gage was hurt wasn’t he? In 2023?
It’s up to the Bucs though, but i always liked Hunter, but Gage is familiar with everyone.. so either way
Gage was hurt. Should be back for the start of this year. I think people aren’t taking it as a bad enough sign that Renfrow could barely see the field the last two years. He’s a limited player. He deserves a look and he’ll get one, but I wouldn’t bet on him being a starter at this point in his career.
It’s funny to look back on Renfrow’s combine results. Dude is below average in basically every measurable, from size to speed to strength (6th percentile for receivers on the bench press!), but his 3 cone is outstanding. Makes sense he could only play in the slot. These days there’s a pretty limited market for small guys who can only play in the slot and aren’t big play threats.
IMO, he was under-utilized. Adams and Meyers are great, but you still need a dispensable body to work underneath for 7-yard 1st downs.
Mayer can take on a lot of that. Renfrow hasn’t really been that guy since 2021.
If the patriots release or trade Juju, I could see them make a play for Renfrow
Weird that a team wouldnt flip a late rounder for him.
He is worth that at least.
Jets need a #2. He’s a 3 now so this has Jets written all over it
Renfrow is a pure slot receiver. A number 3 ideally can play outside or in the slot which is why Renfrow got so little playing time after the Raiders signed Jakobi Myers.
Saints should kick the tires on him. Another guy to work in the slot and familiarity with Carr.
The. Patriots are a perfect fit for Hunter.