The Oakland Raiders may target Amari Cooper, Kevin White, Leonard Williams, Dante Fowler and Todd Gurley in the NFL draft this year, as the team has a top five draft pick and could consider a trade down with the Miami Dolphins in the top 15 and this comes as an Adrian Peterson trade is another possibility if the Vikings running back is traded.
The Raiders have been smart in the draft over the last two seasons and they have been able to add some young impact players. The team is hoping to do the same once again and ESPN reporter Bill Williamson writes that general manager Reggie McKenzie may target a WR if the team stays at the number four pick. Amari Cooper and Kevin White are considered the top two players, while DeVante Parker and Jaelen Strong are options if they trade down.
According to CBS Sports, the Miami Dolphins are interested in trading into the top 10 this year and the Raiders are a potential target. The team could trade down and get extra picks while still being able to add an impact player in the first round. Miami picks at number 14 and the Raiders could be in line to get Breshad Perriman or DeVante Parker at that selection. These two teams have traded in the top five before, with Miami moving up to get Dion Jordan a few years ago.
Cooper is coming in after an amazing season at Alabama and he is considered the top wideout in the draft. Cooper had over 120 catches for 1727 yards and 16 touchdowns last season and he is a very polished route runner and has great hands. White is a little bigger and had a bit faster of a 40-time and that could push him up on draft boards. Parker is explosive but is more raw than the other two players, while Perriman is a speedster and a big pole target, but less polished.
The Raiders also could be in the mix for Peterson, as Williamson writes that he "keeps hearing" the team is an option. Williamson adds that it's unlikely the team makes the move, as they would have to give up significant draft picks, including a first rounder. The team already signed Trent Richardson and Roy Helu and while they have the cap space, they also can look at running backs in the draft.
The running back position is also deep and while the Raiders appear to have some depth already, McKenzie may look at some options at the position in the later rounds. Gurley and Melvin Gordon will likely be the top running backs off the board, but names like Tevin Coleman, Jay Ajayi, Duke Johnson, Ameer Abdullah and David Cobb could be strong options in the mid-to-late rounds.
The wide receiver position is deep in this draft after Parker, Cooper and White, as players like Justin Hardy, Nelson Agholor, Breshad Perriman and Jamison Crowder are also in the mix. Derek Carr needs more weapons on offense in year two and McKenzie likely will give that to him with one of the WR picks in 2015.