Fansided

NFL Draft results 2015: Oakland Raiders take Amari Cooper with No. 4 pick

By Josh Criswell

Oct 18, 2014; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Amari Cooper (9) at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 18, 2014; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Amari Cooper (9) at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Amari Cooper joins the Oakland Raiders, and in doing so, gives quarterback Derek Carr an NFL-ready receiving threat.

The Oakland Raiders were on a clear path to the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft after beginning last season on a 10 game losing streak.

Rookie quarterback Derek Carr, however, played a big role in turning the season around, and the team would finish the season by winning three of its final six games.

While the late-season success proved that the organization had a legitimate franchise quarterback in Carr, and provided a glimpse of promise for the future, it also cost them the coveted first overall pick in the draft. As a result, Oakland was left picking at the No. 4 spot tonight, something that could turn out to be a blessing in disguise when you consider the Raiders history of blowing top draft selections.

The most pressing need for the team was clearly a receiving threat for their quarterback of the future to throw to. Considering that this year’s draft is loaded at the wide receiver position, however, it could be a much smarter play to take a look at one of their other big needs, such as a pass rushing defensive end.

The best options for the Raiders at the No. 4 spot covered both the team needs and best player available categories. It was essentially a foregone conclusion before the draft that Oakland would go with either Amari Cooper of Alabama or Kevin White from West Virginia at receiver, or Leonard Williams from USC or Dante Fowler Jr. at defensive end. Fowler went to Jacksonville the pick before, but the other three prospects were still on the table.

Either way, the Raiders could not go wrong with any of these picks. They were going to be adding a premier receiving option for Carr or a top pass rusher to pair opposite of last year’s first round pick, Kahlil Mack.

With the first pick of the Jack Del Rio regime in Oakland, they addressed their biggest need with the most proven player at the position.

While Kevin White has tremendous upside, and Leonard Williams may be the best overall player in the draft, Cooper is a player that will step on the field and make an impact at the receiver position from Day 1.

An excellent choice by the Raiders.

More from Las Vegas Raiders

Home/Las Vegas Raiders