The Oakland Raiders signed Fresno State wide receiver Josh Harper following the 2015 NFL Draft. The reason that's important is because second-year quarterback Derek Carr went to Fresno State where Harper was one of his favorite wide receivers.
Normally, undrafted free agents don't make significant impacts on game day. Tony Romo and Arian Foster are the rare exceptions to the rule. But could Harper make the 53 man roster and impress a few people now that he has been reunited with his QB? It's a question that was posed to ESPN Raiders reporter Bill Williamson in his weekly mailbag.
@BWilliamsonESPN How serious do you think the raiders are about Harper, I really like the chemistry him and Carr have.
— Robby Troncozo™ (@RobbyRealTaLk) May 4, 2015
"Josh Harper is another young player who needs to be considered," Williamson answered. "Harper was very productive at Fresno State and he was widely considered one of the best undrafted free agents available. Harper had 79 catches for 1,011 yards, 13 touchdowns in 2013 with Carr tossing him passes. There is clear chemistry there. If Harper has a good training camp and preseason, I could see him making the 53-man roster. But he will have to beat out either Brice Butler or Kenbrell Thompkins for the sixth receiver spot. At the very least, Harper should be a strong candidate for the practice squad."
The Raiders are going through a bit of turnover at the wide receiver position. The team signed Michael Crabtree in free agency, drafted Amari Cooper and recently released James Jones. But if Harper continues to show chemistry with the franchise QB-in-the-making then he has a good shot of leapfrogging Butler and Thompkins.
Butler was a 2013 seventh-round pick who has caught 30 passes in two seasons. Thompkins was an undrafted free agent of the New England Patriots where he caught 38 balls for 80 yards and four touchdowns in 14 games. In four seasons at Fresno State, Harper caught 228 passes for 2,938 yards and 29 touchdowns. In his last two seasons he averaged 85 receptions, 1,054 yards and 10 touchdowns.
