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Oakland Raiders 2018 NFL Draft: 5 wide receivers to target

By John Buhler

STILLWATER, OK - NOVEMBER 04: Wide receiver James Washington No. 28 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys warms up before the game against the Oklahoma Sooners at Boone Pickens Stadium on November 4, 2017 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Oklahoma defeated Oklahoma State 62-52. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
STILLWATER, OK - NOVEMBER 04: Wide receiver James Washington No. 28 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys warms up before the game against the Oklahoma Sooners at Boone Pickens Stadium on November 4, 2017 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Oklahoma defeated Oklahoma State 62-52. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /
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STILLWATER, OK – OCTOBER 14: Wide receiver Marcell Ateman No. 3 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys lines up against the Baylor Bears at Boone Pickens Stadium on October 14, 2017 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Oklahoma State defeated Baylor 59-16. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
STILLWATER, OK – OCTOBER 14: Wide receiver Marcell Ateman No. 3 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys lines up against the Baylor Bears at Boone Pickens Stadium on October 14, 2017 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Oklahoma State defeated Baylor 59-16. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /

While everybody was enamored with the great play of Biletnikoff Award winner James Washington, people started to really enjoy watching his wide receiver teammate at Oklahoma State in Marcell Ateman go to work. As the season wore on, it became clear that the Pokes had not one, but two star receivers that are going to work in the NFL.

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While Washington may have been the better collegiate player, there is some reason to believe that Ateman’s game translates better to the professional level. At 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, Ateman has the frame to be a dominant possession receiver all across the gridiron in several formations. He, along with Washington and quarterback Mason Rudolph will represent Oklahoma State in the Senior Bowl this year.

Ateman had a breakout 2017 NCAA campaign with the Cowboys. He posted career bests in receptions with 59, yards with 1,156 and touchdowns with eight. Keep in mind he is playing next to the 2017 Biletnikoff Award winner, so he wasn’t always Rudolph’s first option in passing concepts. Overall, Ateman will be likely a top-100 pick, maybe as high as the second round, but probably third or fourth round in all honesty.

Next: Oakland Raiders 2018 NFL Mock Draft: Wild Card Weekend

Like his teammates, he has a great opportunity to improve his draft stock down in Mobile at the Senior Bowl. The reason he might be the best wide receiving option in the draft for the Raiders is three-fold. One, he has the size to be an imposing possession receiver to aid in Carr’s continued growth. Two, Ateman has thrived playing opposite a star No. 1 receiver. That would be the role he’d be thrust into opposite of Cooper in Oakland. Three, Ateman will be available in the middle rounds where Oakland would likely want to pick him.

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