Oakland Raiders Desperately Need Amari Cooper

With the off-season upon the NFL, the Oakland Raiders are in the process of both player and personnel evaluation. New head coach Jack Del Rio is tasked with trying to turn around a team that has been historically bad for over a decade. The silver and black have won only 5 games or fewer 9 out of the last 11 seasons, and the fan base is desperate for the team to return to the point where they are competing for championships again.

When you have been as bad as the Raiders have over the last 11 seasons, it’s hard to point at just one thing that will turn things around. And while Oakland will be looking to improve as a team, there is one glaring need that the Raiders have to fill for 2015: wide receiver. It’s a need they have neglected for quite a while and can’t afford to do so any longer. The best option? Alabama receiver Amari Cooper. And there are many reasons why that’s the case.

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In the midst of another disappointing season this past year there were a few beacons of light for Raider fans. One was Derek Carr, who looks to be the real deal. While he didn’t put up the numbers and wins guys like Andrew Luck or RGIII did during their rookie campaigns, Derek Carr did show enough talent and grit to convince most fans in Oakland he’s a keeper. One of the things he will need to have a chance at being a break out player in 2015 is a big time talent at receiver. The Raiders can’t bring in any more serviceable #2’s and try to sell them as #1’s.

“Amari is super athletic, very fluid and highly skilled as a route runner and hands catcher. Because of his reserved demeanor and similar ability, I compared him to Marvin Harrison during the season.” — Former NFL GM and current Reese’s Senior Bowl Executive Director Phil Savage.

Guys like James Jones are decent second options, but to go from worst to first, the Raiders need a true elite player at the position.

The good news is the Raiders will have both the draft and cap position to grab a true game changer at receiver. And both the draft and free agency present great choices for the Raiders.

With a young quarterback at the helm, Oakland and Jack Del Rio will have to decide if they believe Derek Carr has the leadership abilities to handle a young receiver straight out of college, or the personality and temperament to handle a free agent that might demand more from him, and who will have a desire to win right away.

This is where the argument for Amari Cooper makes the most sense. Cooper has the speed, size and play-making ability to be an immediate contributor for the Raiders. And he doesn’t bring an attitude with him that has been associated with the position in the NFL:

Oakland would be better suited to go with the draft to fill the need in this case and take the long-term building approach. While that type of outlook might only serve to add to fan frustration, they have thrown money at guys too many times only to be burned and end up back in a rebuilding mode. Remember Randy Moss? How about Carson Palmer? Commit to building a good team now and the dividends will come later. Cooper is the perfect choice to commit to that foundational building. And as his 124 catches and 15+ TD’s this past year show, he will bring excitement back to the Raiders offense.

2015 will bring a lot of challenges to the Raiders if they want to win more than the usual 3-5 games they’ve grown accustomed to. But adding Amari Cooper to a receiving core that is desperate for a #1 guy is a big step towards future success.

Next: Where do the Raiders rank among the best franchises in history?

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