Could the Oakland Raiders double dip at wide receiver?

By Keegan Matheson | Mar 5, 2015

The Oakland Raiders are set to be a major player this offseason, holding the fourth overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft and over $50 million in available cap space. General manager Reggie McKenzie has shown a willingness to be aggressive in free agency, sometimes to a fault, and the arrival of new head coach Jack Del Rio could lead to a fresh crop of faces atop this roster.

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While splash signings such as Ndamukong Suh, Julius Thomas, Greg Hardy and Terrance Knighton have all been linked to the thick wallet of the Oakland Raiders, their wide receiver position is primed to improve exponentially this offseason. Alabama’s Amari Cooper was a popular pick for the Raiders at number four earlier in the offseason, but West Virginia’s Kevin White has been a fast riser and may have leapfrogged Cooper with his star potential.

Oakland could get ahead of the game in free agency with the signing of either Randall Cobb, should he reach the open market, or Jeremy Maclin, both of whom will be commanding lucrative deals as number one options. If the Raiders do opt for one of these players, though, is it still possible that they select another receiver high in April? Absolutely.

Dec 29, 2014; Memphis, TN, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers wide receiver Kevin White (11) catches a pass while defended by Texas A&M Aggies defensive back Deshazor Everett (29) during the game in the 2014 Liberty Bowl at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports

Reggie McKenzie was the Green Bay Packers’ director of player personnel in 2011 when the team selected Randall Cobb late in the second round out of Kentucky. This added Cobb to a roster that already boasted Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, James Jones, Donald Driver and tight end Jermichael Finley. McKenzie knows the value of weapons to a young quarterback, and I don’t think he’ll hesitate to surround Derek Carr with pieces to promote his fullest potential.

James Jones followed McKenzie to Oakland himself last offseason, and despite a career-low yards per reception, Jones posted career highs with 112 targets and 73 catches. A double dip into the wide receiver pool could slide Jones to third on the depth chart, the position from which he excelled with the Green Bay Packers, posting a league leading 14 touchdowns in 2012.

Factoring into this decision, as well, will be the return of Rod Streater, who missed the final 14 games of 2014 with a fractured foot. The 27-year old is just one season removed from an 888-yard season, and Doug Williams of NBC Bay Area reports that he is expected to return in 2015 as a restricted free agent. Streater still possesses a great deal of potential out wide, and would be another valuable piece of a complete wide receiver group.

The wide receiver position does need variety, however. In Green Bay, Randall Cobb needed his complimentary Jordy Nelson, and the schematic fit of these available options will need to be heavily weighed.

Nov 30, 2014; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb (18) rushes with the football during the third quarter against the New England Patriots at Lambeau Field. Green Bay won 26-21. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Randall Cobb may fit best across from Kevin White, who boasts a similar skill set to Nelson. Similarly, Jeremy Maclin could line up across from Amari Cooper, giving offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave two starting-quality receivers with the ability to move the chains and run after the catch. While I believe in Derek Carr and love the arm, I hesitate to suggest that he can carry a team, and the Raiders would be wise to flood talent into his skill positions.

Now, it’s important to realize that McKenzie and the Raiders do not need to address the position with two guns blazing. The depth of this wide receiver class is encouraging, and Oakland should have little problem grabbing a first round talent with the fourth pick of round two.

Jaelen Strong could leave the board prior to that pick, but prospects such as Dorial Green-Beckham, Sammie Coates and Breshad Perriman are still possibilities. The number four pick overall could turn into a lucrative trading chip for the Oakland Raiders this April, too, so McKenzie is in a position of power. With this great power, of course, comes great responsibility, but the Raiders have an opportunity to elevate their wide receiver group to be among the league’s best.

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