What Amari Cooper Means To The Oakland Raiders

With the fourth overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, the Oakland Raiders selected wide receiver Amari Cooper out of Alabama. After much speculation about who the Raiders’ pick would be, with many believing it would be either Leonard Williams, Kevin White, or Cooper, the Raiders opted to make the Alabama product the first wide receiver off the board.

The Raiders have not selected an offensive skill position player in the first round since Darrius Heyward-Bey in 2009. The selection of Cooper becomes the first of that nature in the Reggie McKenzie era.

The Raiders have only three wide receivers in the Hall of Fame, and of those three-Fred Biletnikoff, James Lofton, and Tim Brown-Brown is the only one with over 10,000 yards of receiving in their career with the team.

The Raiders haven’t had a 1,000 yard receiver since Randy Moss was on the team in 2005. In 2014, the team leader in yards was Andre Holmes with 693.

It’s evident that the Raiders receiving corps hasn’t stricken fear in opposing defensive backs in quite some time, and that the team was in dire need of a playmaker. That is exactly where Cooper comes into play.

Cooper is coming off a 2014 in which caught 124 passes for 1,727 yards and 16 touchdowns, finishing third in the Heisman race. His 1,727 receiving yards and 16 TD’s were second in all of the NCAA among wide receivers, while his 124 receptions ranked as the highest total in college football. For his outstanding efforts, he was awarded the Fred Biletnikoff award, given annually to the nations best WR.

Cooper is a phenomenal athlete and is a player that the Raiders can base their entire passing game around. Derek Carr has proven that he likes to throw, attempting 599 pass attempts, which ranked seventh in the NFL in that category in 2014.

Cooper gives Carr a reliable target who can stretch the field. The young QB-WR tandem, given they find the right chemistry, can become a force to be reckoned with not only in the 2015-16 season, but for many years to come.

The stud wide receiver stands 6’1″ and ran a 4.42 in the forty yard dash at the combine. His height is comparable to that of Cowboys’ receiver, Dez Bryant(6’2″), and Chiefs’ receiver, Jeremy Maclin(6’0″). While his 4.42 speed is comparable to that of Giants’ wide receiver, Odell Beckham Jr.(4.43) and Lions’ receiver Golden Tate(4.42).

Cooper is the athletic specimen the Raiders need. Many teams find success if they can find themselves a genuine playmaker, a player that when he has the ball is in his hands, fans know that yards will be gained and jaws will be dropped.

Look at the two Super Bowl teams from 2014 for example. The Patriots have Rob Gronkowski, a star tight end for the team. When the ball is in his hands he is usually carrying the entire offense. The Seahawks have Marshawn Lynch, a star running back, one of the best in 2014, and a player that carried the Seahawks through their entire playoff run — minus that last play of the big game.

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The point is that the Raiders are lacking a player of that nature and have been for quite some time. Oakland hasn’t had a Pro Bowl wide receiver since Jerry Rice in 2002. Their receiving corps has been putrid and doesn’t provide the passing game with much of a spark.

Cooper changes that immediately. Cooper is that playmaker Oakland has needed for so long. He provides the Raiders with a go to player who they can trust when the ball is in his hands.

While sparking the passing game, Cooper also provides fans with a sense of optimism. The Raiders actually have a solid young offensive core of quarterback Derek Carr, running back Latavius Murray, and two brand new rookies in tight end Clive Walford and of course Cooper. This core has an average age of just 23 years old. The fearsome foursome should create a lot of buzz on and off the field.

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Having an offense to look forward to is a pleasant change for the Raiders. Since 2002, when the Raiders led the NFL in yards per game, the team has only appeared in the top ten in yards per game twice (2010 & 2011).  This statistic culminated in 2014, when the Raiders finished in last place among all teams in yards per game.

Cooper has an ability that the Raiders haven’t had in quite sometime. He has the ability to step up right away and become the number one receiver. Last year James Jones was considered the number one receiver, yet he was only able to haul in 666 receiving yards and six TD’s.

Jones didn’t have the talent or ability to take over the number one position, which led to him being cut. Cooper is different. He has the track record to come in and become that number one receiver right away. That ability is crucial for a Raiders team looking for potent receivers. Cooper is a player that the Raiders can build around and should be an offensive stalwart for the team this season and beyond.

Cooper also brings a championship winning mindset. Playing at Alabama with Nick Saban, losing is simply not an option. Cooper was on the 2013 National Championship team in which he led all receivers with 105 yards and two TD’s.

Winning, and the idea that the team is a “world beater” rather than a “cellar dweller,” is a mantra the Raiders must live by. After being at the so low for so long, the Raiders must realize that they can still win games. Adding Cooper to the roster adds a proven winner, and someone who can build on this new ideal.

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The Raiders and their fans had a player in Khalil Mack to look forward to last season. His defensive prowess turned him into one of the best rookie defenders in the league. Now, the Raiders and their fans have a different player to watch. This time in the form of an offensive skill player.

No matter what side of the ball, GM Reggie McKenzie is clearly trying to inject some young talented players into this Raider roster. Cooper just adds on to the coup of young players McKenzie is bringing into Oakland.

Next: Oakland Raiders: McKenzie makes Mistake in Cutting Jones: