DeAndre Carter signs with Raiders, joins veteran WR group

The Raiders have added another veteran wide receiver in free agency, this time signing free agent WR DeAndre Carter to a one-year contract worth up to $2.375 million, per Jordan Schultz and multiple sources. Carter spent last season with the Los Angeles Chargers and enjoyed a respectable season as a depth receiver for QB Justin Herbert.

Carter, 29, is coming off career-highs in catches (46) and yards (538) and has emerged as a fine receiver after a long, journeyman-like career in the NFL. Carter entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2015, originally signing with the Ravens and spending the next several years on the bubble of various NFL rosters. His emergence as a staple on NFL Sundays became clear in 2021 with the now-Washington Commanders when he caught 24 passes for 296 yards and three touchdowns.

DeAndre Carter joins a Raiders receiving corps that is seriously lacking in youth. Among WRs Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers, Hunter Renfrow, Phillip Dorsett, Cam Sims, Keelan Cole and Carter himself, Meyers is the youngest at 26 years old. Renfrow has been the focus of his fair share of trade rumors this offseason, and with the collective age of rest of the Raiders receivers, we could see general manager Dave Ziegler targeting a receiver in the upcoming NFL draft.

On the other hand, with Jimmy Garoppolo set to start under center for the Raiders, building a group of veteran receivers on reasonably-priced deals could prove to be a winning formula if the team manages to successfully allocate their financial resources to address other positions of need on the roster.

In the scenario in which the Raiders draft their quarterback of the future, which head coach Josh McDaniels alluded to at the NFL Annual League Meeting, a veteran receiving corps can often be a young quarterback’s best friend. The Jacksonville Jaguars surrounded 2021 No.1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence with veterans in the 2022 offseason on their way to winning the weak AFC South and winning a home playoff game against the Chargers.