Raiders bring in veteran Snead
Eight-year veteran will compete for roster spot with Las Vegas receivers
The Las Vegas Raiders signed veteran wide receiver Willie Snead Friday, adding another veteran pass catcher to a crowded position group.
The deal was first reported by ESPN as a one-year contract and confirmed by a team source.
Snead, 28, has 275 receptions for 3,393 yards and 16 touchdowns in eight seasons with the New Orleans Saints and Baltimore Ravens. Snead caught 33 passes for 432 yards and three touchdowns in 13 starts with eight games with Baltimore last season and was out from Nov. 30 to Dec. 10 on the COVID-19 reserve list.
With John Brown having been added during the first wave of free agency, Snead is the second veteran receiver to join a position group that includes second-year players Henry Ruggs III and Bryan Edwards, thirdyear slot receiver Hunter Renfrow and veteran Zay Jones, who re-signed with the Raiders on a one-year deal worth $2.5 million which is reportedly guaranteed.
“They have a lot of great talent in the room already,” Snead said during a teleconference. “They’re bringing me in to build on top of that. What I bring to that room is a toughness, a leadership role, a veteran presence. I’m excited for the competition. I just want to mold myself in there and contribute where I can.
“I invite competition, I love that part, and coach (Jon) Gruden seems to be all about competing and making guys better. That fits my mold. I’m excited to be here and ready to get to work.”
Other receivers on the roster include Marcell Ateman, Keelan Doss and Trey Quinn.
Snead compared the Raiders passing game to his time with New Orleans under Sean Payton, who borrowed elements of the Philadelphia
offense as run by Gruden as an offensive coordinator during their time together
with the Philadelphia Eagles.
With the Saints, where Snead had his best statistical seasons, he was liable to lineup on either side or in the slot.
“I was a versatile player during that time,” Snead said.
“In this type of offense, the more you can do, the more they’ll keep you on the field. That’s what I prided myself on when I first came in to the league.
I just wanted to learn it all and go out there and execute and gain that trust from the coaches knowing I can do it and they can put me anywhere out there and I can be successful.”