When asked which player is most likely to have a breakout 2024 season, Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce named one player:
“Tre Tucker.”
The Raiders second-year wide receiver heads into his sophomore campaign after leading the NFL for the first two games of the preseason, with 139 receiving yards through two games, before sitting for the third.
Tucker, who ran a 4.32 40 time coming out of the University of Cincinnati, led the Raiders with the two longest catches of the 2023 season–48 yard and 50 yard bombs, respectively.
Had Tucker qualified with more receptions (catching 19 passes for 331 yards as a rookie) his 17.4 yards per catch would’ve ranked 3rd in the NFL, behind only the 49ers’ Brandon Aiyuk and Pittsburgh’s George Pickens.
Heading into this season, Tucker believes he’s gotten much better as a route runner–under the tutelage of fellow receiver and six-time Pro Bowl star, Davante Adams.
“That’s what I’m excited to show: The complete route tree.” said Tucker, after a preseason game against the Cowboys.
“Luckily, I got big bro–17. The Route god, he’s put a lot of things in my route tree.”
During his rookie campaign, Tucker showcased the deep-threat ability he possesses and the Raiders hope he’ll continue to grow as a player who can stretch opposing defenses and allow their weapons in Adams, rookie Brock Bowers, Michael Mayer and Jakobi Meyers more space to operate.
However, Tucker also needs to prove that he can be a more complete receiver, and that at his slight build (5’9″, 185 lbs) consistently beat press coverage against bigger safeties and corners.
“I know what I had to fix from last year,” said Tucker, during the Raiders training camp in Costa Mesa, California.
“I kind of changed my body last year–I was kind of down in weight last year, so I put on more weight. And doing a lot of studying, just being prepared way ahead of time.”
If Tucker can make good on his promises of adding strength and improving his route running, he can have a very solid sophomore season, or even better, catch the league by surprise as a breakout player for the Raiders.
Their regular season begins Sunday, in Los Angeles. On the road against Khalil Mack and the Chargers.
