Derek Carr threw a bunch of touchdowns to Hunter Renfrow in Las Vegas. He knows what he’s talking about. So when Carr posted a video of Renfrow’s career highlights on social media with a goat emoji, it wasn’t just nostalgia. It was a statement from a guy who watched Renfrow turn into one of the most underrated slot receivers in the league.
The Raiders drafted Renfrow in the fifth round out of Clemson in 2019. Nobody expected much from a 5-foot-10 white kid who ran a 4.59 forty. But for a few seasons, Renfrow was uncoverable. In 2021 he caught 103 balls for 1,038 yards and nine touchdowns. He led the team in every receiving category. That is ridiculous production for a fifth-round pick.
Things went sideways in 2022. Renfrow took a nasty concussion in Week 2 and missed multiple weeks. He never really bounced back in Vegas. His numbers cratered. The Raiders let him walk after the 2023 season and he landed in Carolina last fall trying to revive things. It didn’t work. He managed just 15 catches for 89 yards and two scores in six games.
Why Carr is sticking up for his guy
Carr has always been loyal to his teammates. You saw it when he was in Oakland and Vegas. The guy would go to war for his receivers. And Renfrow was his security blanket on third down. That connection was real. Carr’s post is basically saying the league forgot how good Renfrow was. Which is fair. When healthy and schemed properly, Renfrow was a matchup nightmare.
Look at the 2021 tape. Renfrow was destroying man coverage from the slot. His route running was surgical. He set up defensive backs with subtle head fakes and tempo changes that made them look lost. He wasn’t fast but he was sudden. That’s a skill you can’t teach.
The Raiders right now have a pretty thin wide receiver room. Jakobi Meyers is solid but he’s not a true number one. Tre Tucker has speed but hasn’t put it together consistently. Brock Bowers at tight end helps a ton but this offense still needs another playmaker. A prime Renfrow would be perfect in this scheme.
One last chance somewhere?
Renfrow is only 30 years old. He’s not washed. He’s just been buried by injuries and bad situations. The Panthers were a mess. The Raiders offense changed after Carr left. It’s possible a team like Kansas City or San Francisco takes a flier on him as a depth piece. That kind of savvy slot presence is valuable in a playoff push.
Carr clearly believes Renfrow still has something left. And if anyone knows what Renfrow can do with a real opportunity, it’s the guy who threw him the ball for five seasons.
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