Oakland Raiders: A few of the worst moves of the Jon Gruden 2.0 era
By Kevin Saito
Trading Draft Pick For Martavis Bryant
Before the season even started, Gruden raised a lot of eyebrows by sending a third-round pick (seventy-ninth overall) to Pittsburgh for the perpetual headache known as Martavis Bryant. Though talented, Bryant has been troubled throughout his career – troubles that led to him being suspended for the entire 2016 season.
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Though Bryant has plenty of talent, he’s never lived up to his potential. Over his three active seasons in Pittsburgh, Bryant racked up 1,917 yards on 126 receptions, and snagged 17 touchdowns.
It was the potential Gruden saw that led him to give up the pick for him. Unfortunately – yet, not entirely surprisingly – Bryant hasn’t lived up to that potential in Oakland either. He’s struggled to pick up the offense and at one point, was cut by the team, only to be brought back again.
With his season possibly over after suffering an injury to his PCL, Bryant will end the year – and probably his brief stint in the East Bay – with 19 receptions for 266 yards and zero touchdowns.
It’s a move that never should have been made, given Bryant’s history and attitude. That third-round pick could have – and should have – been used on a player who would have actually contributed to the team now, as well as down the line. A guy like Saints WR Tre’Quan Smith, whose numbers (22 receptions, 371 yards, four touchdowns) far eclipse Bryant’s, or even LB Fred Warner, who’s making solid plays in San Francisco, would have filled a big area of need, and looks better than most any linebacker the Raiders currently have on the roster.
Bryant’s best game as a Raider came in a week six loss to the Chargers, in which he caught three balls for 91 yards. But, he’ll probably be best remembered in Raiders lore for Gruden calling him, the “White Tiger” — given how rare it is to see him show up, ready to play.