The Las Vegas Raiders have spent much of the offseason revamping their offense. On Wednesday, they added another veteran to the mix.
Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that the Raiders have added Keelan Cole, who played with the New York Jets in 2021 and with the Jacksonville Jaguars before that.
Former Jaguars’ and Jets’ WR Keelan Cole is signing a 1-year deal with the Raiders, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 11, 2022
While this move doesn’t have the earth-shattering feel to it that Las Vegas trading for Davante Adams did, Cole is a nice receiver.
Aside from his rookie season with the Jaguars in 2017, Cole has never played for a winning team and has generally had to deal with shaky quarterback play. Despite that, he’s averaged 37 receptions, 538 receiving yards, and just under three touchdowns per season in his five-year career.
And even though 2021 was generally a down year for Cole, he did show himself capable of still making big plays.
Zach Wilson throws a STRIKE and Keelan Cole does the rest. #TakeFlight
📺: #NYJvsBUF on CBS
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/iZ4aQsQjqh— NFL (@NFL) January 9, 2022
Cole has also been durable, missing only two games in his entire career.
His signing was generally met with positive reactions in the NFL world.
Serious weapons in Las Vegas. Carr has a loaded group of pass catchers and several running backs. #Raiders offense is going to be explosive. Unfortunately most of the media doesn’t know the names outside of Adams, Waller and Renfrow. #RaiderNation https://t.co/O62oeeg1Nr
— JT The Brick (@JTTheBrick) May 12, 2022
LFG Keelan! Most underrated receiver in the league. https://t.co/ECt0kwj9YB
— Goose (@KowalsKorner) May 12, 2022
#Raiders add some talent to the WR room. https://t.co/8AwEg30DTy
— Levi Damien (@LeviDamien) May 11, 2022
Receiving core is insane.. https://t.co/M7CzyVn6W0
— Mario (@mariog_24) May 12, 2022
Competition is going to be fierce. 👍🏾👍🏾 https://t.co/RYmz0Ia2Fa
— Las Vegas Raiders Fans (@raiderfans) May 11, 2022
While the Raiders have the best, most stable offensive situation that Cole has had in his career, they’ll also have more competition. Cole will be joining a loaded receiving room, headed by Adams. Between the wideouts and the always productive Darren Waller, the Raiders pass-catchers will be battling through camp and into the season for targets.
For quarterback Derek Carr, it figures to be a good problem to have.
