One of the biggest questions surrounding the Raiders this offseason is what the team will do at wide receiver. Amari Cooper is gone, and Jordy Nelson struggled in his replacement. But could there be another player on the roster who could eventually develop into a starting caliber outside receiver?
Speaking at his Wednesday press conference at the NFL Combine, general manager Mike Mayock called 2018 seventh-round pick Marcell Ateman the team’s starting X-receiver, according to Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. However, Mayock added that the team is looking to get “faster and more athletic,” neither of which describe Ateman.
At the 2018 combine, Ateman ran a 4.62 40-yard dash and was well below-average in the agility drills. According to 3sigmaathlete, Ateman tested in just the 27th percentile of all draft-eligible wide receivers. Simply put, he’s just not a very good athlete.
In 2018, Ateman didn’t play a snap in the first 10 games of the season. However, he found a role in the final seven weeks of the year, catching 15 passes for 154 yards and one touchdown.
While Ateman may be a placeholder for the time being, it will be interesting to see if he can find a role in this offense. Ahead of free agency and the NFL Draft, it does appear the team is going to rely on him.
