Ranking the Oakland Raiders 5 crucial roster needs for 2019 offseason

2. Wide Receiver

Regardless of your thoughts on Amari Cooper‘s refreshed temperament in Dallas, he took the field as the Raiders’ top wide receiver to start the 2018 campaign, and team brass traded him. Now, Gruden and Mayock have to fill the void. There’s no more AC-DC; quarterback Derek Carr has to find a new go-to perimeter target.

Even if the Raiders re-sign Jared Cook, he doesn’t address a long-term need in the passing attack. Defense should be Oakland’s top priority but scoring points remains the key to winning games and reaching the postseason. The top-four scoring clubs made it to the conference championship round in the last campaign.

At this stage in his career, Carr is still a middle-of-the-pack quarterback who needs high-quality offensive weapons for optimal production in the passing game. At 33 years old, wideout Jordy Nelson isn’t someone equipped to lead the position as a focal point in the aerial attack. He’s a solid No. 2 or No. 3 option.

The free-agent wide-receiver pool doesn’t feature many No. 1-type playmakers, but Tyrell Williams could flourish as a No. 2 option with more targets. He’s a 6-4, 205-pound pass-catcher who stretches the field vertically, logging at least 15.3 yards per reception in each of the last three seasons.

Williams saw more than 70 targets, once, during the 2016 term and finished with 1,059 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Raiders fans have talked about Golden Tate, but he made his intentions to play for a contender clear following the Philadelphia Eagles’ divisional round playoff exit, per Geoff Mosher of Inside the Birds podcast:

Fortunately, the Raiders will have a shot at several high-end prospects at wide receiver late in the first round and early in the second round. Kelvin Harmon, N’Keal Harry, JJ Arcega-Whiteside and A.J. Brown should be on Mayock’s radar for pick Nos. 24 or 27.