Oakland Raiders: Randall Cobb vs. Jeremy Maclin

The smoke linking the Oakland Raiders to Green Bay Packers impending free agent wide receiver Randall Cobb is as intense as ever, but I wonder if Philadelphia Eagles impending free agent Jeremy Maclin could be a viable option for the Raiders if he ends up finding his way to the open market.

It was once a foregone conclusion that Maclin would undoubtedly stay with the Eagles, as the team seemed keen on re-signing him or even tagging him. The deadline came and went without a tag, and negotiations have seemingly stalled. Of course, it still seems likely that Maclin will re-sign with the Eagles, since they have a ridiculous amount of cap space, lost their other top skill position player in LeSean McCoy, and need to re-sign their No. 1 receiver and arguably their best player in the 2014 season.

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Despite the fact that it makes too much sense for Maclin and the Eagles to agree to a deal, he could find himself on the open market when free agency opens. If that’s the case, then he’ll have no shortage of suitors after blossoming last season upon his return from an injury, showing how wise he was for betting on himself (and he bet on himself before the DeSean Jackson release).

The Raiders would figure to be one of those suitors, since they desperately need a No. 1 receiver, as their only reliable wideout last season was James Jones, who clearly isn’t a viable No. 1 guy and is ideally a No. 3 receiver. Jones holds plenty of value to the Raiders organization going forward, but let’s just say that there’s a reason Kevin White and Amari Cooper are the consensus picks for the team with the fourth overall pick.

Double-Dipping in Draft and Free Agency?

As colleague Keegan Matheson wrote earlier today, the Raiders could double-dip for a receiver, and I am absolutely for the idea. They need to get as many weapons as possible, since they have absolutely nothing at the position outside of Jones and wild cards Brice Butler and Andre Holmes. Tight end Mychal Rivera is solid and there are rumors linking Julius Thomas to the team, but the Raiders top priority needs to be adding top receivers.

While Holmes has talent, the fact of the matter is that he isn’t anything resembling a consistent, No. 1 receiver. The Raiders need a true No.1 and a true No. 2-type, and they simply don’t have that on their roster right now. Jones and restricted free agent Rod Streater are both quality wideouts, but the Raiders need to take advantage of their draft position and cap space by adding a top wideout in the draft as well as snagging a top receiver.

It seems like the Raiders are clearly prioritizing pass-catching talent over every other position, as Mad Dog Sports Radio passes along that ESPN’s Adam Schefter expects the Raiders to go harder after Thomas and Cobb than Ndamukong Suh. This is especially interesting, since Suh would make a bigger impact on the team as a whole, but it seems like the Raiders want to make sure Carr is surrounded with an arsenal of weapons.

Carr has shown that he has the arm talent, quick decision-making ability, and athleticism to run a spread-type offense, and that’s the kind of attack the Raiders seem to be eyeing. They have a speed back in Latavius Murray, and it seems like they are going after versatile pass-catchers in an effort to spread defenses out horizontally.

While it’s too early to be sold on Carr after he failed to produce as a rookie, it’s clear he was set up to struggle in his first season without adequate help in an unfavorable offense that unfairly constrained him, so his talent could shine through in 2015 if the Raiders are able to give him these weapons.

Jeremy Maclin vs. Randall Cobb

Maclin and Cobb are the two best impending free agent receivers this year, but which one is better?

Let’s start with Cobb, since he’s more likely to hit the open market, and he’s been linked to the Oakland Raiders more than any other player this offseason. He’s looking for over $10 million per season, which isn’t too rich for the Raiders pockets. Not only do they need to spend more money in order to avoid punishment from the league offices, but they have such a huge need for a guy like Cobb that he’s worth it.

Cobb is one of the NFL’s most versatile receivers, and he was also one of the league’s most reliable last season. He benefited greatly from both Aaron Rodgers and Jordy Nelson, but Cobb also had 13 touchdown receptions, a catch rate over 70% (per Advanced Football Analytics), and a hefty 13.8 yards per reception.

For his career, Cobb has a catch rate above 70% and a YPR average above 13.0, meaning that he’s excellent at making plays and moving the chains. Versatility at the wide receiver position is mostly focused on players who can line up inside or outside, but Cobb takes it all to the next level. He can move across the formation, he can make defenses pay in the red zone (13 TDs isn’t the number your average “small” receiver puts up), and he can work over the middle or burn defenses with his speed after the catch or on downfield routes.

Dec 21, 2014; Tampa, FL, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb (18) runs with the ball against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Green Bay Packers defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20-3. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Thanks to his ability to impact the game in almost every facet, Cobb is one of the league’s most valuable receivers, and the Packers will miss him more than they care to admit. There isn’t a glaring weakness to his game, and Cobb is a precise route-runner who is extremely difficult to cover.

Even the Seattle Seahawks couldn’t take him out of the game, and he took a huge amount of pressure off of Nelson and Rodgers. Those two helped Cobb plenty last season, but Cobb also aided them by consistently getting open.

Maclin’s 2014

Maclin isn’t as versatile as Cobb and isn’t as dangerous with the ball in his hands, but he’s also an explosive receiver who runs exceptionally clean routes.

He had to suffer through some poor quarterback play last season, and yet he still managed to average 9.2 yards per target. It wasn’t quite Cobb’s 9.9 average, but he had to do it with Nick Foles and Mark Sanchez throwing him the ball. Sanchez, of course, didn’t seem to be able to get the ball to Maclin enough, so that also hurt his numbers.

What helped his yards per target average, though, was the fact that he spent the majority of his routes running downfield. He fit the Eagles offense perfectly from that perspective, as he averaged a career-high 15.5 yards per reception to bump his career average to above 14.0. Like Cobb, Maclin’s playmaking ability translated into touchdowns, as he made it into the end zone ten times last year.

How will they address the position?

How the Raiders choose to attack the wide receiver position in free agency could affect how they attack the position in the draft, though, since nobody else above them is expected to draft a receiver, it’s more likely that their draft board could dictate who they go after in free agency (provided Maclin is able to slip away from the Eagles grasps).

There are several wide receiver prospects who could conceivably go the Raiders in either of the first two rounds of the draft, but the most likely scenario has the Raiders addressing the position with the fourth overall pick by selecting either White or Cooper.

If the Raiders choose Cooper as a slot guy and “Z”, then it could make them more likely to draft Maclin as a true “X” guy and downfield threat, whereas having White on top of their board at No. 4 would likely lead them to prefer Cobb, who can work as the slot guy and “Z” receiver. Of course, going with Maclin and White or Cobb and Cooper can still work, since each of these receivers have different skill-sets despite a few general similarities in how they can be used.

Who fits better?

The Raiders have a lot to weigh, and it’s possible they could decide to go after another position in the first round. Cost will be a big factor in deciding between Maclin and Cobb, and I have a feeling Maclin will be significantly cheaper. While the Raiders desperately need a true “X” receiver, Cobb’s ability to move the chains and make plays after the catch (to go with his sure hands, route-running, red zone ability, and versatility across the formation) could make him an even better fit for Carr and the offense as a whole due to his uniqueness as a receiver.

Nov 2, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jeremy Maclin (18) during the game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Based on the way negotiations have gone between Maclin and the Eagles, I have a strong feeling Maclin is set on hitting the open market. That way, he can create a bidding war, and that would force the Eagles to exercise more of their cap space than they might have been willing. Maclin’s ability to beat defenses vertically would be a huge boon for Carr.

The Oakland Raiders should go with a receiver in free agency and in the draft, though it might be better for them to take advantage of the depth at the position in the draft by going for a second-round receiver instead of a first-round guy if they are going to sign Maclin or Cobb.

Maclin more cost-effective and fills bigger need, unless if they draft White

I love Cobb’s game and view him as a receiver who can make a huge impact anywhere, but ultimately I think he fits better on a contender that already has a No. 1 outside receiver.

Unless if the Raiders want to draft White, then it makes more sense for them to save a little bit of cash by signing Maclin (he won’t be that much cheaper than Cobb, but there should be a noticeable difference in cost), start him as the “X”, look at their other options and WR, and use that amount of money saved to make some upgrades on defense.

Unless if the Raiders draft White as the No. 1 outside guy, then Maclin makes the most sense. There’s a fine balance between looking at how these guys fit, but Maclin is the better option (cost is important) under most scenarios despite the fact that Cobb is the better player overall.

Either way, the Raiders can’t go wrong, unless if they waste their money on Julius Thomas, since they need receivers and not a “move” tight end; Rivera is good enough.

Next: 5 Questions for the Raiders

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