The Oakland Raiders are coming into the NFL draft with a top five pick and if the team doesn't draft Amari Cooper, they may look to free agency for help on offense for Derek Carr and names like Michael Crabtree, Greg Jennings, Hakeem Nicks and Reggie Wayne could be options along with an Adrian Peterson trade with the Vikings.
The Raiders won five games last season and after bringing in Jack Del Rio to take over as head coach, owner Mark Davis is expecting improvement. General manager Reggie McKenzie has been active this offseason, but it hasn't been business as usual for the Raiders. The team has spent money, but it hasn't been crazy big contracts or high priced signings, but instead solid moves for depth at positions of need, including at linebacker, safety and offensive line.
McKenzie has signed Rodney Hudson, Curtis Lofton, Malcolm Smith, Trent Richardson and Roy Helu along with Nate Allen in free agency and now the team is set up well for the draft. Bill Williamson at ESPN.com writes that wide receiver is still a major need and the team likely will address that in free agency or at the draft. Williamson reported last week that Michael Crabtree was coming in for a visit and he also mentioned Greg Jennings as a potential target.
Crabtree met with the Dolphins and could not work out a deal and he met with the Raiders on Monday. Crabtree is coming off of a solid season with the 49ers after previously missing time with an ACL injury and he was able to stay healthy all of last season, making nearly 70 receptions. Crabtree did not put up numbers like 2012, but he has potential as a number two or three receiver for the Raiders.
Oakland is likely going to look at Amari Cooper in the draft, as he is the top wide receiver along with Kevin White. If Cooper is on the board at four, expect him to be the pick for the Raiders. Cooper had 124 catches for over 1700 yards and 16 touchdowns for Alabama last season.
The team also may look at an Adrian Peterson trade despite signing Roy Helu and Trent Richardson, as he could be a game changing player for the Raiders on offense. The team still has over $20 million in cap space and while they need a big chunk of that for the draft, it could be used to try and bring in Peterson. Right now Peterson's future remains up in the air and he could end up back in Minnesota for 2015. Earlier in the offseason
Williamson wrote for ESPN earlier in the offseason that Peterson could be a potential target, even after the team added Richardson. Helu is not considered a lead back and with Latavius Murray still unproven, the team could look at Peterson as a prime starter. Richardson has the potential to be the starter, but after two bad years in Indianapolis, there is a chance that may not work out. Carr needs playmakers on offense and with the team missing out on DeMarco Murray, Peterson could be the next best option.
