The Oakland Raiders drafted their franchise receiver last year in Amari Cooper. That worked out well as the rookie finished off a solid season with a Pro Bowl nod. They also got a solid No.2 in Michael Crabtree and already made moves to retain him for a few more seasons. The issue now is the rest of the depth in Oakland. The Raiders will enter next season with basically Cooper and Crabtree as the dependable targets leaving free agency and the NFL Draft as options for help.
The Raiders have both Andre Holmes and Rod Streater heading off into free agency. Both players had their ups and downs in their Oakland careers and neither option will be missed much if not re-signed. According to CSNBayArea.com, one of the offseason needs for the Raiders will be a veteran receiver or simply upgraded depth to help Derek Carr. Cooper and Crabtree have established themselves as the main duo, but Oakland needs another piece or two to complete the puzzle and free agency has a lot to offer.
Fansided.com makes the suggestion of Anquan Boldin who is preparing to depart the San Francisco 49ers. Boldin said he wanted to return to the Bay Area, but with Chip Kelly now in at head coach that might not be an option. Boldin is still a solid producer on the field, while offering up solid leadership to younger players. The Raiders roster is filled with youth. Boldin brings championship experience and knowledge that could be beneficial to players like Carr or Cooper. James Jones would be another veteran option, but the chances he seeks a reunion with Oakland are slim.
If the Raiders are willing to spend some money, they might be able to expand their targets to more than just veterans. Players like Rishard Matthews or Marvin Jones would be excellent options for Carr to work with, but they will not come cheap. The same can be said for guys like Jermaine Kearse. The Raiders could look to the draft, but that will only add to the young options on the field already.
Outside of a veteran wide receiver, a veteran running back is another target the Raiders must make. Like Cooper, Latavius Murray worked to establish himself as a franchise player solidifying the run game. However, teams have more success when they have two solid backs on the roster which Oakland does not. Players like Matt Forte or Arian Foster could be options on short-term deals while guys like Ronnie Hillman, Bilal Powell and James Starks will not command big contracts as they are used to splitting a backfield.
