Justin Shorter

Career StatsC+

Year	Team	GP	Rec	Yards	TD
Career		7	—	—	—
2025		7	—	—	—
2024		10	—	—	—
2023		3

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The B- Contract Value Index on Justin Shorter's deal stems from how the cap hit lines up against on-field output. At $1.075 million annually on a rookie scale contract, Shorter's salary is modest enough to insulate against catastrophic cap waste, but his 2025 season production—3 tackles across 7 games—signals minimal offensive involvement and a role that barely registered on the field. For a third-year receiver at age 26, that output falls well short of what even a depth-chart contributor should be delivering, particularly in an offense ostensibly designed to develop young pass-catchers. The CVI grade reflects the mismatch: the money is low enough that it doesn't cripple the Raiders' cap structure, yet high enough that it's being spent on substandard production rather than redirected toward proven talent. Given the mediaframing around Shorter as a "fringe roster contributor" and "developmental tier" player who spent much of the recent period on injured reserve, his value proposition is essentially neutral—he's not a bargain find, nor is he a financial anchor. For Las Vegas, sitting at 3-14 and actively rotating receiver options (as evidenced by recent signings of Brandon Johnson and Jonathan Brady), Shorter remains a low-upside reclamation project competing for roster crumbs rather than a building block, making this a hold-your-breath contract that works only if circumstances improve dramatically.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the B band — a quick read on where Justin's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

Production at WR earns Justin Shorter a C+ performance grade in the current sample. The grade reflects a third-year receiver operating well below the threshold for reliable offensive contribution — neither a consistent target option nor a vertical threat the offense can scheme around in meaningful situations. His 2025 season logged just three tackles across seven games, a stat line that underscores minimal involvement in the passing game and a role that barely registered on the field; for context, that tackle count likely signals special teams duty rather than meaningful snaps in the passing offense, a reality that defines his standing in the depth chart. At 26 with a modest $1.1M salary on his rookie scale contract, Shorter remains in the developmental tier, but the trajectory is worrisome — waived earlier in his professional arc, re-signed by Las Vegas only after Amari Cooper's retirement forced a positional triage, then immediately placed on injured reserve, a sequence that reads less like a reclamation project and more like a placeholder masquerading as a solution. The mediaFraming makes clear that the Raiders front office is treating receiver as an ongoing emergency repair operation: Brandon Johnson's recent signing and the subsequent moves to refresh the roster suggest no confidence in Shorter as part of the long-term answer at the position. To meaningfully elevate his standing entering 2026, he needs a healthy offseason, consistent preseason visibility, and a defined role in the offense — none of which are guaranteed given his injury history and the organization's evident pursuit of other options.

How Justin Compares at the Position

Justin Shorter ranks 118th of 295 graded wide receivers by performance. That slots Justin between Jalen Virgil (C+) just ahead and Matthew Golden (C+) just behind.

Fan Sentiment

Shorter signing is a low-risk depth addition following Amari Cooper's retirement. Five headlines reflect modest media interest in this practice squad-level move. Immediate IR placement suggests he's a future depth option, not current contributor. Fans view this as organizational filler rather than meaningful roster improvement. Raiders likely cycling through receivers while developing younger talent behind starting group.