The Oakland Raiders have a top five draft pick this season and names like Amari Cooper, Kevin White, Leonard Williams and Marcus Mariota are potential targets for head coach Jack Del Rio and this comes as the team may also look at adding a free agent wide receiver like Michael Crabtree, Greg Jennings, Hakeem Nicks or Reggie Wayne for Derek Carr this offseason.
The Raiders have been an active this season offseason and one of their remaining needs is at wide receiver. The team is not planning on signing back Denarius Moore and they have James Jones back from last season, but they lack depth at the position. Bill Williamson at ESPN.com writes that Michael Crabtree, Greg Jennings, Hakeem Nicks or Reggie Wayne could be free agent options at WR, while Amari Cooper and Kevin White are the likely draft targets.
The team signed Dan Williams, Malcolm Smith, Rodney Hudson, Roy Helu and Curtis Lofton as well as Nate Allen and that could change some draft needs for the team. Williamson writes that Williams likely will be the pick if Cooper is off the board and the team could also consider Shane Ray, Randy Gregory and Vic Beasley with the fourth overall pick. The team is confident in Derek Carr and while Marcus Mariota could be an option, he likely will not be drafted.
The Raiders may also have plans to add a receiver later in the draft if the top of the draft board changes, as Cooper could be a pick for the Jacksonville Jaguars. While likely would be a nice option if Cooper is off the board, but there is a chance that the team could bypass a WR if Leonard Williams is available. The team picked Khalil Mack and he has turned out to be very solid, but the team still needs more playmakers on defense and Williams has had high marks from draft experts. Todd McShay predicts the Raiders will grab Williams and that could open things up for an offensive playmaker in the later rounds for the team.
Bill Williamson at ESPN writes that the team could look at a number of receivers in the later rounds, as players like Phillip Dorsett, Breshad Perriman, Jaelen Strong, Dorial Green-Beckham, Devin Funchess, Devin Smith and Sammie Coates could be available. Cooper, Parker and White are considered to be the top players and Green-Beckham may slip after some off the field issues. The Raiders love speed and that could lead them to Perriman, as he put up a very good 40-yard-dash time at his pro day.
Strong is getting more attention as the draft gets closer, while Smith could be a steal in the second or third round after playing at Ohio State. Green-Beckham is the most intriguing prospect, as he has a domestic violence issue in his past, but he likely would be a top 10 pick otherwise. The Raiders could be the team to take a chance on him if the team misses out on their preferred selections. Crabtree is getting some interest from the Dolphins along with Greg Jennings, while Hakeem Nicks is meeting with the San Francisco 49ers.
