The Las Vegas Raiders need receivers, so coach Klint Kubiak poached Dareke Young from his old team as a depth piece.
New Las Vegas Raiders coach Klint Kubiak has been raiding the Seattle Seahawks to fill out his coaching staff, and now the Seahawks former offensive coordinator is adding one of his old players, Dareke Young, with the move reported by Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk.
Young isn’t a name most people know, but he’s actually been with the Seahawks for four years, so Kubiak clearly thinks he has value and potential despite his thin resume. Young had two catches for 48 yards in nine regular season appearances last season, and he also played in all three of Seattle’s postseason games, including the team’s Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots. Like many receivers who make a living further down the depth chart, he played on special teams as well, making 12 tackles in all of his 12 appearances.
Young is a native of North Carolina, and he played his college football with the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears, the same school that produced Pittsburgh Steelers safety Kyle Dugger. Young showed considerable versatility at Lenoire-Rhyne, catching 73 passes for 1,176 yards and 16 touchdowns in 43 games, and he also rushed for 658 yards on 88 carries to go with eight touchdowns.
Young has been buried behind star receivers like DK Metcalf and Jaxson Njigba-Smith in Seattle, but he should get a much fairer shake in Las Vegas. The Raiders are strong at tight end with Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer, but they’re light on good receivers right now.
The Raiders did sign Jalen Nailor from the Minnesota Vikings to a three-year, $35 million deal, and Las Vegas likes the potential Nailor offers with his speed and route running. No other receivers have been added to date, though, so Young will have a chance to make a strong first impression.
The other competition in the Raiders' receiving room as it stands now is very beatable. Tre Tucker was was supposed to be the deep threat, and did have almost 700 yards on 57 catches to go with five touchdowns, but he’s barely a top three receiver at this point. Possession receiver Jakobi Meyers was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars in midseason, so there’s likely an opening there as well.
Rookie Jack Bech had some moments, but the Raiders offense was so bad that there weren’t many opportunities at receiver for him or Dont’e Thornton Jr., who’s considered a disappointment so far. Given the value offers in his dual role as a special teamer, Young should make the roster, and he may also have the opportunity to do a lot more as the Raiders start their rebuild.