Oakland Raiders: 5 players who helped themselves after Rams game
By John Buhler
28. . Wide Receiver. Arkansas Razorbacks. Keon Hatcher. 3. player
Keon Hatcher is a rookie just trying to make a roster spot like so many young guys on the Raiders. Oakland has four wide receiver spots locked up in Amari Cooper, Michael Crabtree, Cordarrelle Patterson and Seth Roberts. Perhaps the best way for a fifth or sixth wideout to make the team is to do so on special teams.
One guy that was key in the Raiders’ almost comeback was rookie Keon Hatcher out of Arkansas. He had three catches for 33 yards and a long of 15. Hatcher would be the guy that Connor Cook would look to help move the chains on that beautiful go-ahead drive in the middle of the fourth quarter.
He was mostly a possession receiver on that series, but it looked like he and Cook had been teammates for years with their on-field chemistry. Getting open in the middle of the Rams defense is not easy, as this unit is usually in the top-12 in football.
Hatcher still may not make the roster as an undrafted free agent out of Arkansas. However, he did show us some stuff that would be worth keeping on the practice squad. A receiver that is able to make plays in the middle of the field to keep drives alive is always a valued commodity.