The Oakland Raiders have a top five pick in the NFL draft this year and names like Marcus Mariota, Kevin White and Amari Cooper could be potential targets and this comes as the team is looking for more help at wide receiver and players like Reggie Wayne, Greg Jennings, Michael Crabtree and Hakeem Nicks remain available as options on the market.
The Raiders pick at number four this year and there are a number of different things the team can do with the pick. The team could look at trading out of the spot, although that is unlikely, while most mock drafts have the Raiders picking a wideout with the selection. According to ESPN.com, if the Raiders go with a receiver, it likely will be either Amari Cooper or Kevin White if they are still on the draft board at number four.
The Buccaneers pick first overall and they are expected to take Jameis Winston, while the Titans pick at number two and they could take Marcus Mariota. Leonard Williams has been mentioned as an option for Tennessee and they also could be a target for teams looking to trade up to take Mariota. But if things hold and teams stay where they are, there is a chance that White, Cooper and Mariota are available when the Raiders are on the clock.
The Raiders feel comfortable with Derek Carr as the quarterback moving forward, but Bill Williamson at ESPN.com writes that there is speculation that the team could go for Mariota. Winston is considered to be the number one QB prospect in the draft, but many scouts have him and Mariota close and if he slides to the Raiders, they could look at taking him even with Carr already in the fold. Carr had a successful rookie season and although the team was not that great around him, it's not like he is the second coming of Andrew Luck.
The Raiders need playmakers on offense and that is why Mel Kiper and many others see Amari Cooper as the potential pick. Cooper is coming off of a huge season at Alabama and like Julio Jones, he could translate easily to the NFL after playing in a pro-style offense. Cooper has good size at 6-1, 211 pounds and his speed was solid at the combine with a 4.42-second 40-yard dash. The Raiders often put as premium on speed and that is why many think the team will go with White, but Cooper is no slouch.
Last season Cooper had 124 catches for over 1700 yards and 16 touchdowns and he could be a c consistent deep threat for the Raiders. Cooper runs strong routes and that often is a good sign of being able to adapt to the pro game. White comes in after putting up a 4.35-second 40-yard dash at the combine and that will get the attention of teams. White is slightly taller at 6-3, 215 pounds and he comes in after putting up 109 catches for 1447 yards and 10 touchdowns for West Virginia last season.
