Proposed Jauan Jennings signing would plug hole Klint Kubiak and Raiders must fill originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Las Vegas Raiders navigated the 2026 NFL draft and it's safe to say their wide receiver situation isn't any better.
We actually liked what the Raiders did overall, but the big blemish was the team not drafting a wide receiver until Round 6, when the team drafted Malik Benson out of Oregon.
If the season started today, the Raiders would be entering Week 1 with a top three of Jalen Nailor, Tre Tucker and either Jack Bech or Dont'e Thornton.
Nailor and Tucker are good players, but neither one has ever proven themselves to be an adequate No. 2 target, let alone a No. 1.
Bech and Thornton, two of Las Vegas' 2025 NFL Draft picks, remain unproven after lackluster rookie seasons.
Whether it's Kirk Cousins or Fernando Mendoza under center, the Raiders' current group simply isn't good enough.
What the Raiders need is an established veteran who can temporarily step into a key role in the offense.
While Jennings isn't your prototypical No. 1 wide receiver, he is much more proven than anyone the Raiders have in their wide receivers room now.
Jennings has posted over 600 yards in each of the past two seasons, including a career-best 975 in 2024. He had a down year while battling injuries in 2025, but Jennings still managed to be a scoring machine with nine touchdowns.
At 6-foot-3 and 212 pounds, Jennings is an ideal target who can operate on the boundary and in slot. He's also a great target near the goal line.
The fact that Jennings is still unsigned suggests he has not gotten the offers he expected to get. That means he should come cheap, and that idea is only bolstered by the fact that players don't usually get much at this late stage in free agency.
Las Vegas needs to make a move now or else the free-agent market is going to dwindle even more. Jennings is the guy the Raiders should be after.