John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
After watching Leonard Williams fall down to them at No. 4, the Oakland Raiders decided to go with the safe pick instead, selecting Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper.
There’s no denying that the Raiders have a big need at wide receiver — they have no true No. 1 wide receiver. The addition of Cooper certainly changes that and gives sophomore quarterback Derek Carr a legitimate weapon to work with. The pick was a smart move for a regime hoping to get this franchise headed in the right direction.
However, the decision to pass on Williams was a questionable one to say the least. The USC defensive tackle was arguably the top talent available heading into Thursday night, and seemed like the perfect fit for Oakland’s 4-3 defense. Especially with the feel-good story of Williams growing up as a Raiders fan, it seemed like a match made in heaven.
Now, Cooper will come in and immediately take over as the Raiders’ top receiver. With the former Crimson Tide star now at the helm, the Oakland passing game could see a significant boost. Last year, they were forced to rely on subpar talents such as Rod Streater, Andre Holmes and an aging James Jones. Cooper will provide Carr with a go-to target who can make plays all over the field — especially after the catch.
It wasn’t the popular pick, but it’s the safe pick the Raiders needed to make. Now they head into 2015 with a lot more confidence in their passing game.
