The Oakland Raiders are flush with cash and ready to hit the ground running under new head coach Jack Del Rio.
With young quarterback Derek Carr trying to run an NFL offense sans any significant weapons last year, the Raiders and GM Reggie McKenzie are expected to look to that side of the ball first and foremost when the NFL's free agency period opens in March.
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb - a versatile, electric talent who can run the ball, catch the ball and return kicks - is being targeted by the Raiders, according to a report from Bill Williamson of ESPN.
Cobb, a former second-round pick out of Kentucky, finished last season for the Pack with 91 receptions for 1,287 yards and 12 touchdowns. He's reportedly seeking a deal that averages about $9 million per season, so he won't come cheap, but with Oakland boasting the second-largest cap room in the NFL that likely won't be a hindrance.
In fact, the only impediment to Cobb landing with the Raiders may be the Packers keeping the young talent. Packers GM Ted Thompson has made it known that he'd like to keep Cobb, but as is often the case in the NFL, cost can oftentimes become prohibitive and the Packers already handed a big-time, long-term extension to Jordy Nelson last season.
"Should the Packers not be willing to get close enough to convince Cobb to sign before free agency opens, the Raiders would be one of the teams with both the cap space and the receiver need to be at the front of the hunt for Cobb's services," writes Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. "Their General Manager Reggie McKenzie was also in Green Bay when Cobb was drafted in 2011, something that could come in handy if there's a chance to pitch Cobb on following Jones's path to Oakland."
Wide receiver James Jones made the jump from Green Bay to Oakland last year and if things work out in a similar fashion this season Cobb could join Jones and end up on the receiving end of Carr's passes for the foreseeable NFL future.
