2015 NFL Draft grades: Oakland Raiders select Amari Cooper

With the fourth pick in the 2015 NFL Draft the Oakland Raiders drafted Amari Cooper.

The Oakland Raiders helped themselves greatly in the draft last year when they took outside linebacker Khalil Mack and quarterback Derek Carr with their first two picks to give them two cornerstones they can build around.

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Owning the No. 4 pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, the Raiders were in position to add another impact player to help rebuild the once-proud franchise. After Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota and Dante Fowler Jr went with the first three picks, the Raiders had a choice to either take USC product in Leonard Williams or one of the top two receivers in Amari Cooper or Kevin White to give Carr a No. 1 option.

Ultimately, the Raiders decided to pass on arguably the best player in the draft in Williams for the draft’s best receiver in Cooper at No. 4. Cooper won the Biletnikoff Award as a junior at Alabama when he led the nation in receptions with 124 for 1,727 yards and 16 touchdowns.

The Raiders couldn’t go wrong with either Williams or Cooper, but Mel Kiper said before the pick was announced that Cooper could be Jerry Rice, so this is definitely music to the ears for Carr who gets a potential superstar to work with for years.

His football character is as good as it gets and he can line up anywhere at receiver and beat the defense. He runs all the routes and he’s a winner, which is something that the Raiders locker room needs more players with that pedigree.

Grade: A+

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