In the way that so many smaller, under-the-radar slot receivers do, Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Hunter Renfrow has consistently been a guy who simply gets open when it matters most. Dubbed āThird-and-Renfrowā for his propensity to move the chains on the most crucial down, he showed his chops to the max on Wednesday in the Raiders' joint practice with the Los Angeles Rams.
As he was lined up several times in the slot across from All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey, the unlikeliest of outcomes happened. According to ESPN's Paul Gutierrez, Renfrow cooked Ramsey:
Hunter Renfrow absolutely torches Jalen Ramsey and trash talking from #Raiders sideline ensuesā¦
ā Paul Gutierrez (@PGutierrezESPN) August 18, 2021
Guiterrez's report was confirmed by NBC's Pro Football Talk, as Myles Simmons wrote that āā¦on a couple of plays, Renfrow got the best of Ramsey ā including an outstanding catch along the sideline.ā
Renfrow was confident, but still measured, in the post-practice press conference:
āFor me, Iām just going out there and doing my job and having fun and really just competing with myself. And thatās the beauty of it āĀ if I can beat Jalen Ramsey, then I can beat anybody in the NFLĀ because heās one of the best. And thatās how I approach it,ā Renfrow said in his post-practice press conference. āAnd he got me a few times today, and so hopefully tomorrow weāll make each other better again.ā
The development is certainly a good thing for Raiders quarterback Derek Carr, and he indicated so in his press conference as well:
āJalen obviously is ā again, Iāve played against him a couple times ā and he is sticky. Tight windows, guys have to separate. And Hunter did a good job against him, he did, in the slot,ā Carr said. āI told Hunterā¦it gives me confidence that I can cut it loose even sooner knowing that youāre going to fight for me against good corners. And Jalen is there. One of the balls ā the catch that Hunter had to make, [because] if not, Jalenās picking it or knocking it away.ā
If Renfrow's progress reflects itself in the upcoming NFL season, the Raiders could certainly makes some waves out West in the AFC. With Carr already hitting Darren Waller, Josh Jacobs for big plays, the additions of Kenyan Drake and a new and improved Hunter Renfrow could do some serious damage.