Oakland Raiders: Bringing Terrelle Pryor Back Makes Zero Sense
By Kevin Saito
When you’re a team like the Oakland Raiders, a team that hasn’t had a real taste of success in a very long time, some of the craziest – and oftentimes, most ridiculous – rumors out there get stuck to you. If a player who some perceive to be an impact player – whether they really are or not – who hits the open market, all of the sudden, a team like the Raiders are this close to signing them. Whether they actually are or not, and regardless of whether they should or not.
More from Las Vegas Raiders News
- Raiders: Rookie stock report following Week 3 performance
- Raiders: Bryan Edwards out, Henry Ruggs doubtful for Sunday
- Raiders: Damon Arnette re-injures thumb, could be headed to IR
- Raiders fall short in letdown Week 3 loss to the New England Patriots
- Raiders: Game breakdown and prediction for Week 3 at New England Patriots
Enter Terrelle Pryor.
When Pryor was cut by the Cincinnati Bengals last week – making them the third team to release him – in the last year, his prospects of being a quarterback in the NFL seriously dimmed. Not that it should be any great surprise. Ask most Raider fans out there – and Pryor has a number of rabid fans out there, so it’s “most” and not “all” Raider fans – and they will be able to tell you that Pryor, for all of his athletic ability, is not a good quarterback.
In his brief nine-game stint as Oakland’s starting quarterback, Pryor amassed a record of 3-6. He had a 57.4 completion percentage, going 156-272 for 1,798 yards, seven touchdowns, and eleven interceptions. Toss in a 69.1 QB rating, the 31 sacks he took in those nine games, and seven fumbles, and it’s pretty clear that Pryor is not an NFL-caliber starting quarterback. The fact that he’s been released by the Seahawks, Chiefs, and Bengals now, all seem to support that conclusion.
More from Golden Gate Sports
- Raiders: Rookie stock report following Week 3 performance
- 49ers sign new long snapper amidst a flurry of roster moves
- Oakland Athletics win Game 2 of Wild Card round with late-inning drama
- 49ers: George Kittle and Deebo Samuel cleared to return to practice
- 49ers expected to place DE Dee Ford on injured reserve
But Pryor is determined to not see his NFL dreams go up in smoke. Shortly after his release by Cincinnati, Pryor’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, indicated that Pryor is willing to switch positions and play wide receiver.
Given his struggles as a quarterback, and his pure athleticism, it was a move that had been suggested in the past. But Pryor, so intent on being an NFL quarterback, dismissed any and all notions of him switching positions, sometimes laughing it off by saying he “didn’t know how to catch a ball.”
But now that his future in the league is in serious jeopardy, Pryor seems all in with the idea of learning how to catch the ball and become a receiver. And hearing that Pryor is willing to switch positions, some of his fans among the Raider Nation are advocating that he be brought back into the fold immediately.
Of course they are.
Yes, Pryor is an athletic freak. Yes, he has size and speed. Yes, he has the ability to break off a 93-yard touchdown run now and then – just ask the Pittsburgh Steelers. There is little doubt that Pryor, if he dedicates himself to it, can be an effective receiver in this league.
But that time is not now. That time likely won’t be for a couple of years. At least. And the Raiders simply do not have the time to take on a massive rebuilding project like Terrelle Pryor and turn him into something he’s naturally not – a skilled wideout.
The Raiders are pretty well stocked at wide receiver with Amari Cooper, Rod Streater, and Michael Crabtree leading the way. Andre Holmes, Brice Butler, Kenbrell Thompkins, and if they keep him on the roster, Josh Harper, gives Oakland a receiving corps that is deep and talented. The last thing they need or want is a “receiver” who’s never taken a single snap at the position.
Live Feed
Niner Noise
Pryor is talented and athletic. He can make instinctual plays with his legs that leave other players looking quite stupid – again, ask the Pittsburgh Steelers about that. But it’s going to take a little while for him to not just change his mindset from that of a quarterback to that of a receiver, or perhaps even a running back. And it’s going to take time for him to learn the intricacies and nuances of whichever position he may wind up in.
Unfortunately for Pryor – and for his fans – the Raiders do not have that sort of time to devote to developing him. They have a lot riding on this season, and for the first time in a while, there are some expectations surrounding the team – as modest as they may be.
With the free agent upgrades, as well as another solid draft class put together by Reggie McKenzie and Jack Del Rio, the Raiders are on the cusp of putting it all together and building something special in Oakland. But they need maximum effort from every player, and they need all of the skill they can bring to the table. They most certainly cannot afford to use a roster spot on a player who may never develop into a viable position player.
But, that is the nature of the beast this time of year. Crazy stories fly around all over the place and somebody thinks it makes sense for team A or team B, and suddenly, it becomes a thing.
For all of their improvements, the Raiders have some needs, and they have some glaring weaknesses. But their wide receiver corps is not one of them. The others will be addressed as the offseason rolls along.
Unfortunately for his fans, the Raiders simply do not need Terrelle Pryor as he brings absolutely nothing of value to the table. And that’s what Oakland needs more than anything at this point – players who bring value to the team and fill an area of need.
Now, if Pryor learned how to play cornerback…