Unfortunately for the Oakland Raiders, the market for veteran wide receivers is no longer flush with talent. Randall Cobb re-signed in Green Bay, Jeremy Maclin fled for riches in Kansas City and Torrey Smith got locked up by San Fran. As such, the team will undoubtedly take a long and hard look at Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper and West Virginia's Kevin White in the upcoming NFL draft. Head coach Jack Del Rio and general manager Reggie McKenzie know that second-year quarterback Derek Carr needs some help. But, historically, a veteran pass-catcher is better for a young QB's immediate development. That means that the Raiders may be open to scraping the bottom of the barrel in free agency.
None of the available wide receivers left may be big-impact players at this point, but they could be upgrades to what was an anemic group of pass-catchers last season. The Raiders ranked 28th in receiving yards per game (216) and 17th in receiving touchdowns (22) last season. This may force Oakland to consider Dwayne Bowe, Greg Jennings, Michael Crabtree, Hakeem Nicks and Wes Welker.
"I still think the Raiders, who have about $24 million in salary-cap room, should add one of these players as a short-term solution," ESPN Raiders reporter Bill Williamson wrote. "I think the best bet is Crabtree, although I wouldn't expect him to be a game changer by any stretch and there's not much difference between him and James Jones at this point. But he could help an offense that needs it. But Crabtree is reportedly visiting Miami...so there is a chance this light market may soon get lighter."
The Raiders may also look at a splashier solution to some of their offensive woes, and it may not be a wide receiver addition.
"The Raiders have a surplus of cap room while other are struggling to stay under the cap," Williamson wrote. "That could be an advantage. It also could help them in the trade market if a team decides to unload a player. If the Vikings end up trading running back Adrian Peterson, the Raiders (whose offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave worked with Peterson in Minnesota) could emerge as a possibility."
