Cam Sims will have a new NFL home. The 6-foot-5 wide receiver agreed to a contract with the Las Vegas Raiders, according to The Athletic’s Ben Standig.
Sims spent five seasons with the Washington Commanders after going undrafted in 2018 out of Alabama. He flashed his potential in 2020 with a career-high 32 catches for 477 yards and one touchdown with 639 offensive snaps. That year, he made big plays in Washington’s playoff loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with seven catches for 104 yards.
However, the Commanders upgraded their receiver group, sliding Sims down the depth chart. Sims was limited the past two seasons to a combined 615 snaps on offense. He had 23 catches for 300 yards and two touchdowns through 31 games.
Instead, Sims made his mark on special teams. Last season he had 244 special teams snaps.
At age 27, Sims seemingly has untapped potential. The Commanders had an interest in re-signing him this offseason. Yet, his future with the team appeared in doubt with Washington’s signing of former Kansas City Chiefs wideout Markus Kemp.
Kemp is also 27 years of age, five months older than Sims. Yet, Kemp has not had the success of Sims as a wide receiver, with four career receptions for 42 yards. But he can play special teams. Kemp also spent six seasons off and on with the Chiefs, all of which in front of Washington’s new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.
That’s significant, as Kemp will be able to mentor the Commanders’ wide receivers in learning Bieniemy’s scheme. Washington has an intriguing and young group of wide receivers led by Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel, Jahan Dotson, and Dyami Brown.
Meanwhile, the Raiders get a big physical wideout in Cam Sims. Sims can stretch the field with his stride and ability to snag contested catches. In reality, the opportunity to get offensive snaps in Washington may not be there for Sims.
Yet he will get his chance in Vegas. Sims will catch passes from new Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo next to Pro Bowl wide receivers Davante Adams and Hunter Renfrow and free agent pickup Jakobi Meyers.
