The Oakland Raiders need a wide receiver. The team did not get a top threat in free agency and must acquire someone early in the draft if Derek Carr has a chance to succeed in his second season. New head coach Jack Del Rio made it clear the franchise is all-in on Carr and his future, but not providing him with proper talent will have the offense going nowhere. After moves for Trent Richardson and Roy Helu in the run game, with the Raiders use their first-round pick for a receiver?
According to ESPN.com, the Raiders best wide receiver is not yet on their roster. Entering 2015, the team has Andre Holmes and James Jones as their top two players and that simply will not cut it once again. Sure both players did well in 2014, but not well enough to get the Raiders any higher than 26th in the league in terms of a passing attack. The Raiders need an upgrade, one they will find in the draft.
According to ESPN's Mock Draft, the Raiders will be selecting Amari Cooper or Kevin White with their first pick in the draft. Both players are considered ready to start immediately and cannot-miss guys. The Raiders simply cannot afford to overlook getting a top receiver in the first round and potentially one in a later round to complete their rotation. The team lost Denarius Moore in free agency and they do not have enough to get Carr moving in his second season.
Oakland still has enough salary cap space to acquire a potential veteran if they think that is a good fit as well. Greg Jennings, Michael Crabtree, Hakeem Nicks and Reggie Wayne all remain on the market. Everyone outside of possibly Crabtree will come relatively cheap on short-term contracts. The Raiders need bodies and having a vteran voice in the huddle certainly would not hurt. They could also get that by signing someone like Jermaine Gresham to put at the tight end position alongside Mychal Rivera.
There is no guarantee in their offense right now. Helu is a talented back, but not an every-down player. Richardson has certainly left a lot to be desired in his short NFL career as the team is banking on the running back returning to his college form. Jones and Holmes are solid role players, but not big-time playmakers. Getting Cooper or White in the draft would give the Raiders that homerun guy they have been searching for.
