Key Takeaways:

• Jalen Nailor signs 3-year, $35 million deal with $23 million guaranteed
• Former Vikings WR was ranked No. 27 free agent by The Athletic
• Las Vegas native returns home in free agency
• Raiders continue aggressive offseason with another weapon for Fernando Mendoza

The Las Vegas Raiders are not done adding weapons. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Raiders have signed former Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jalen Nailor to a three-year, $35 million contract with $23 million guaranteed.

Nailor, a Las Vegas native, returns home to play for his hometown team. He was drafted by the Vikings in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft and has spent his entire career in Minnesota.

While Nailor’s numbers may not jump off the screen — he had a career-high 29 catches for 444 yards last season — he was playing behind superstars Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison in one of the league’s worst quarterback situations. The Athletic ranked him as the No. 27 free agent in this year’s class, noting that the tape shows a player ready to take a big jump in the right environment.

Nailor’s best football may still be ahead of him. He dealt with some injury issues early in his career but has stayed healthy the past two seasons. At 26 years old, the Raiders are betting on his upside.

The signing gives quarterback Fernando Mendoza another weapon in the passing game. Nailor joins a receiving room that includes Jack Bech, Dont’e Thornton, and whoever the Raiders add in the NFL Draft.

GM John Spytek has been aggressive this free agency period, addressing needs on both sides of the ball. After landing Tyler Linderbaum to protect Mendoza, adding Nailor to catch his passes is another step in building around the Raiders’ franchise quarterback.

Walk the Plank

Bringing in Jalen Nailor is a smart bet on upside. Was he the sexiest signing? No. But the tape doesn’t lie — this kid can play. Playing behind Jefferson and Jordan Addison with bad quarterback play will suppress anyone’s numbers. Now he gets to come home to Las Vegas and catch passes from a rookie QB with a rocket arm. That’s a recipe for a breakout season. GM John Spytek continues to stack moves that make sense for the future while competing now.