Oakland Raiders: Hunter Renfrow shines during spring practices

The Oakland Raiders may have stumbled upon a Day 3 draft gem. Wide receiver Hunter Renfrow has already generated offseason buzz.

For Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr, Christmas came in the spring; he’s going to share the huddle with a wide receiver corps that features elite talent and tremendous upside.

At the top of the depth chart, Antonio Brown captures the spotlight with his confidence and tantalizing route-running ability. At 6-4, 205 pounds, Tyrell Williams blends size and speed, posing an imminent threat to undersized defensive backs and cover men who underestimate his quickness downfield. We can’t forget rookie fifth-rounder Hunter Renfrow, an assuming small-framed receiver with sticky hands.

According to Pro Football Focus, Renfow dropped one pass out of 50 catchable targets in the 2018 season with Clemson:

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Yet, when Renfrow steps on the field, most will look past his 5-10, 184-pound stature, and that’s a huge mistake. The Clemson product has already made a strong impression with the Raiders. On The Athletic’s State of the Nation podcast, Vic Tafur talked about the wideout’s impressive showing during spring practices:

"I heard from some of the coaching staff they like him…Every day in practice I’ve heard he’s making catches, still, he gets open…I think he’s winning over believers. The coaching staff [and] players [thinking] ‘You know what? Maybe he can do this, maybe he can get open and make all these plays he did in college on this level.’"

A viewer of the podcast wanted to know which Clemson product stood out most during organized team activities. For Jimmy Durkin and Tafur, Renfrow came to mind because of the offensive advantage without pads and no live pass rush. The coaching staff and beat reporters will have a better look at defensive end Clein Ferrell and cornerback Trayvon Mullen at training camp.

Nonetheless, Tafur mentioned Renfrow gained “believers” — generating optimism in his ability to carry over collegiate production to the big leagues. It’s an intriguing takeaway with the No. 3 wide receiver spot up for grabs. The position isn’t limited to the slot. Head coach Jon Gruden wants his receivers to become interchangeable between the inside and outside pre-snap.

Gruden’s demands won’t shake Renfrow; he’s prepared to play the position without a niche designation. “I’m not a slot receiver. I’m not an outside receiver. I’m just a receiver,” the rookie said during a media conference in May (per Raiders.com). “It’s kind of like playing in the backyard, you’re just expected to go catch the football. That’s the mentality I have.”

Renfrow will compete with Ryan Grant, J.J. Nelson, Marcell Ateman and Keelan Doss for the spot behind Brown and Williams. Clearly, the Raiders liked what they saw on tape and at the Senior Bowl to take him in the fifth round with a crowded wide receiver group going into the draft.

As a Day 3 pick, with 7.875-inch hands and running a 4.59-second 40-yard dash time, Renfrow knows he’s not the most physically gifted, which paints him in the underdog role.

“I’m not the biggest guy out here,” he said during the conference. “I’m not the fastest, but I feel like I can outthink people at times. I think that’s such a big part of the game that people don’t realize. You have to be able to play, definitely, but you have to be able to outthink people, outwork people.”

When Gruden and his staff assemble the 53-man roster and establish the pecking order, size and draft pedigree won’t matter. Renfrow’s tendency to make plays in crucial moments supersedes informative data. Look no further than his performances in College Football Playoff National Championships, propelling Clemson to victory on a walk-off touchdown reception in 2017.

Although Renfrow looks like the underdog, don’t forget, he’s a two-time champion with one of the surest hands in moments some pass-catchers falter under pressure. Gruden likes to challenge his players, and the rookie receiver seems prepared to meet and exceed expectations.