Former Pro Bowl wide receiver Jordy Nelson is set to join the Oakland Raiders after spending his first 10 seasons in the league with the Green Bay Packers. This came shortly following his former team deciding to part ways with him to make room for the addition of All-Pro tight end Jimmy Graham.
This has brought into question how much Nelson has left in the tank after coming off one of his least productive seasons in quite some time. According to Matt Schneidman of the East Bay Times, Nelson voiced that he believes he still has plenty to offer the Raiders over the next two seasons.
“If you look two years ago, the year I won NFL Comeback Player of the Year coming off my ACL, I was still productive – 1,200 yards, 14 touchdowns,” Nelson said, via the East Bay Times. “I think we had a lot of different things going on last year that obviously affected that. I can still run. I can still catch. Football, at this level, a lot of people focus on speed, but I ran a 4.5 coming out of college so I wasn't blazing then either. It's different when you get helmet and shoulder pads on. I think I can do that. I can make plays.”
In the 2017 season, the 32-year-old production recorded just 53 catches for 482 receiving yards and six touchdowns. This marked the lowest amount of receptions and receiving yards since the 2010 season. This drop along with his age may have contributed to the Packers deciding to move on from him this offseason.
That said, the Raiders have made it clear that they value what he brings to the table by quickly moving in on him once he was released. This was evident by the effort that Pro Bowl quarterback Derek Carr put in by meeting him at the airport and driving him around the city.
Nelson will have an opportunity in front of him to prove himself that he can still be a highly productive player in the Raiders' offense over the next two seasons. It could just simply come down to him taking advantage of the promising situation he has in Oakland.
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