Raiders Third-Round Possibilities, Part 15

While new Las Vegas Raiders Coach Josh McDaniels will definitely bring his own ideas to the team's offense starting next season, one thing that fans would like to see stay is a focus on attacking downfield.

Quarterback Derek Carr has become one of the better deep ball throwers in the NFL in the past couple of seasons, and it would behoove the Raiders to keep that element of the offense going.

Drafting a wide receiver who can make plays downfield would certainly help that, and Cincinnati's Alec Pierce could fit that mold.

Pierce led the Bearcats last season with 52 catches for 884 yards and eight touchdowns while averaging 17 yards per catch.

At 6-3 and 213 pounds, Pierce has the height and length to be a receiver that quarterbacks can throw up to at any time.

He has a sizable catching range and has shown the ability to high-point the ball and have good body control on back-shoulder throws.

Pierce has experience playing on the outside and in the slot for Cincinnati, and after running a 4.33-second 40-yard dash, showed he has the speed necessary to win against press coverage down the field.

Pierce has demonstrated improvement as a route-runner, but could still use more refinement as he goes into the NFL.

While he has shown good long speed, Pierce is more average with the ball in his hands, not always having the ability to make the first man miss.

The questions will also come about the level of competition that Pierce faced in a non-Power Five conference like the AAC.

Pierce's physical attributes and success as a deep threat in college should make him an attractive target for teams looking for a big body at wide receiver.

The Raiders aren't lacking in targets after trading for Davante Adams, but they lack weapons who are genuine threats getting deep opposite him.

Pierce, with his combination of size and speed, can be put in a position where he doesn't have to be relied upon to run a full route tree and is played squarely to his strengths.

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