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New head coach Jack Del Rio says people shouldn’t overlook the Raiders’ incumbent receivers.
That’s true. Rod Streater has star potential. James Jones has a productive track record. Andre Holmes is excellent snatching footballs from the sky. Brice Butler’s had his moments and Kenbrell Thompkins has potential.
Those are facts, plain and simple. So is the second part of Del Rio’s take on receivers. The Raiders are likely adding to the group. That includes veteran free-agent Michael Crabtree and a plus-one coming from next week’s NFL draft.
The Raiders haven’t had a 1,000-yard receiver since 2005 and haven’t featured a true No. 1 wideout in several seasons. They might go looking for one in the early rounds.
Who’s here: Brice Butler, Michael Crabtree, Jeremy Gallon, Andre Holmes, James Jones, Seth Roberts, Rod Streater, Kenbrell Thompkins
Draft needs: The Raiders need talent and depth here. I don’t think it’s outside possibility that the team takes more than one wideout in this draft. There’s significant talk that a receiver might snag the No. 4 overall pick. If not, the No. 35 slot seems likely. We’ll go over top receivers in greater detail, but here is an overview of the early picks, discounting the possibility of a trade.
Good fits: Many mock drafts have the Raiders selecting a receiver at No. 4 overall, and those people choose between Alabama’s Amari Cooper and West Virginia’s Kevin White. I’m in the Cooper camp. He’s an excellent route runner with good speed and solid hands. The Raiders can’t afford to miss this high, and Cooper’s the safe bet.
White has the tangible’s you want, with great speed and an ability to secure tough catches. I worry that he’s a one-year wonder from a spread offense, while Cooper has a track record in arguably the NCAA’s toughest football conference.
The Raiders also need an edge rusher, which might push their receiver needs into the second round. There are good players there, including USC’s Nelson Agholor. He’s pro ready, and would be a playmaker as a wideout and return man. Arizona State’s Jaelen Strong has the size and presence to be good receiver in traffic. Central Florida’s Breshad Perriman visited the Raiders recently and could be a fit, but he could end up a first-round pick.
