The Chiefs and Saints may finally sign former $32 million bust wide receiver Hunter Renfrow this season. The trade deadline is over for all 32 rosters, but that doesn’t mean teams can’t sign any more talent to improve, especially with the postseason around the corner. One report believes the Eagles should add Renfrow to their receiving corps, but there are plenty of teams looking for wideout help. Originally selected in the 2019 NFL Draft, the Clemson product never reached his full potential in all four years until the Raiders stuck with receivers like Jakobi Meyers and Davante Adams for the immediate future.
Renfrow was one of the more promising slot receivers until Adams and Meyers’ arrival, which caused Renfrow’s production to go down. He wasn’t getting many looks in his last two years with the team but he’s been able to top 103 receptions, the third-most in franchise history for a single season. Renfrow was a Pro Bowler before and he won’t get on a strong start once he returns to the NFL but any team that needs depth could use his services. A change of scenery will be what Renfrow needs to be at his best and the Chiefs, Saints may be able to put him in that spotlight.
It seems like he won’t return to the league but his availability should be shocking for many teams that have a need at the wideout position.
Long-term Investment?
The Chiefs were able to find some short-term solutions to their wide receiving room after losing Marquise Brown and Rashee Rice this year. They’ve brought DeAndre Hopkins for those woes and after catching two touchdowns in the last matchup, the Chiefs are setting themselves up for a Super Bowl three-peat. However, reserve players like JuJu Smith-Schuster, Mecole Hardman and Skyy Moore probably won’t last any more than two years so someone like Renfrow could accommodate these receivers. Renfrow may be more of just a rental-free agent but it’s better to get him in the mix behind guys like rookie Xavier Worthy to help keep the passing attack balanced.
Patrick Mahomes is one of the greatest quarterbacks in the league but he’s playing like an average signal-caller this year. To no fault of his own, Travis Kelce is aging and Mahomes is better on second-year and inexperienced players which is why they’ve bought into the Hopkins experiment. Renfrow may not have any postseason experience himself but it’s a consolation prize to help the depth chart. He won’t need to play much but he’s a significant upgrade from Hardman despite Renfrow not knowing the Chiefs offensive system.
Better Luck Next Year
The Saints hoped to turn things around after suffering from losing seasons for the past decade since Drew Brees left. Dennis Allen was on the hot seat all season despite the 2-0 start, later the team fired him after going 0-7 in the rest of the matchups. Derek Carr and Chris Olave might not come back but it doesn’t mean the Saints shouldn’t start building now. Rashid Shaheed isn’t returning until next year but the addition of Marquez Valdes-Scantling won’t compensate for the longevity of this passing offense.
However, it’ll take a couple of growing pains for wideouts like Bub Means to be established. They may have to wait until next year’s draft but they should roll the dice on someone like Renfrow. A weapon that Carr is familiar with if they decide to bring him back so this might boost his production since the chemistry is already there.
