Oakland Raiders: Picking up Amari Cooper’s option a no-brainer

Oakland Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie discussed wideout Amari Cooper’s fifth-year option. Should the team exercise it or allow him to hit the market in 2019?

During a short pre-draft discussion, Oakland Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie addressed multiple questions that covered free agency, the new coaching staff and the upcoming rookie selection process.

In between, he briefly touched on wideout Amari Cooper’s contract situation.

Here’s the small tidbit McKenzie offered to the media, via Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Michael Gehlken:

It’s very likely the team exercises the option shortly after the draft, but there’s a laser-focus on crucial decisions starting next Thursday.

Breaking Down the Fifth-Year Option

The Raiders selected Cooper with the No. 4 overall pick, which allows the team an opportunity to add on an extra season to his four-year rookie deal. It’s a proposition built into contracts for all first-rounders. Though, there’s a downside to keeping a player for a fifth campaign. The club must pay a steep salary, specifically for top-10 picks.

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Outside the top-10 selections, there’s an average between the third and 25th top salaries at the position to determine the fifth-year option salary. In Cooper’s case, a draftee within the top 10, the cost equals to that of the wide receiver transition tag for the year.

In 2018, the transition tag for wide receivers hit $13.9 million. Cooper would take on that salary for the 2019 campaign if the Raiders exercise his fifth-year option. In case of injury, the team would still have to pay the wage.

For the current season, Cooper carries a $7.2 million cap hit, per Spotrac, which means his cost will come close to doubling for the following term. According to the National Football League Player Association public salary cap report, the Raiders have $1.8 million in cap room. Keep in mind Oakland would like to extend edge-rusher Khalil Mack on a massive deal.

Looking Ahead

McKenzie must project the team’s cap situation for the following year with Cooper’s potential $13.9 million cost factored into the payroll. By any means, the Raiders should create financial space for the 23-year-old if necessary.

Despite the drops and lukewarm finishes over the past three years, Cooper is the clear-cut No. 1 option in the passing attack. He possesses the strongest rapport with quarterback Derek Carr, which will serve as a major positive without wideout Michael Crabtree on the field.

The Raiders signed veteran pass-catcher Jordy Nelson to a two-year deal. Seth Roberts has been wildly inconsistent as the third option among wide receivers.

Even if Nelson builds instant chemistry with Carr, the Raiders need a dynamic receiving option to keep defenses guessing downfield. Head coach Jon Gruden described Cooper as a “young Tim Brown” at the NFL owners meetings, per NBC Sports Bay Area reporter Scott Bair:

"I said it when he came out of Alabama, that he reminded me of a young Tim Brown. He has that type of game speed. He’s elusive, and has a wide range of routes he can run. He’s flexible. It’ll benefit him to stay healthy and stay in the same system for a few years. If he does that, great things are ahead."

Also remember, Cooper became the first Raider to log consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons since Jerry Rice between the 2001-02 seasons, per ESPN Stats and Info:

He’s already mentioned in the same breath as two Hall of Famers. Gruden coached both, and he sees parallels to Brown.

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There’s little to no chance the Raiders let the May 3 fifth-year option deadline pass without locking in Cooper through the 2019 campaign. He’s too valuable for the offense, and Gruden, who’s running the show, wants to groom him into one of the best at his position.