If the Oakland Raiders are going to pay a premium targeting a certain position group in NFL free agency, it makes sense for that group to be wide receiver.
The Oakland Raiders made a big splash this offseason in prying Jon Gruden away from the ESPN booth to be their next head coach. He has since assembled a monster staff including guys like Paul Guenther, Greg Olson, Tom Cable and Edgar Bennett.
While the Raiders aren’t swimming in cash heading into free agency, general manager Reggie McKenzie has enough available space to pay a premium to acquire at least one great player. If the Raiders are going to be big spenders on one position group this free agency cycle, it should be to target an elite wide receiving talent and here is why.
The Raiders may look to move off veteran possession receiver Michael Crabtree. Though still a good player, his antics are getting old and his production just isn’t good enough to offset that. Oakland may part ways with him and will have an obvious need for a second solid wide receiver opposite of Amari Cooper.
Since Cooper is entering year four of his rookie contract, the Raiders have presumable two years before he truly hits free agency. Keep in mind that he was a former first-round pick in 2015. That means the Raiders can extend the fifth year option on Cooper this offseason for 2019.
By targeting an elite receiving talent like Jarvis Landry of the Miami Dolphins or Allen Robinson of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Cooper not only has a great player opposite of him, but would allow a two-year gap between the incoming free agent wideout and Cooper making bank.
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Adding some of Landry or Robinson’s caliber would certainly put pressure on Cooper to strive for greatness. While he was a Pro Bowler in years one and two out of Alabama, Cooper struggled mightily holding on to the football in year three. Having another top-15 receiver playing opposite of him in Landry or Robinson could give the Raiders one of the best receiving corps in football in 2018.
For those that think the Raiders need to pay a premium to target a defensive player this offseason, keep in mind that Guenther and his staff will coach up what it already in place in Oakland. Expect the Raiders to go heavy on defense in the upcoming draft anyway. Few things are better than a fast, cheap and young defense that wants the ball.
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By adding a Landry or a Robinson, that would only give quarterback Derek Carr more confidence under center in Gruden’s West Coast offense. Just look at who has thrown the ball to Landry and Robinson over the years? Landry played at the worst passing school in the SEC in LSU.
Ryan Tannehill isn’t exactly an elite downfield thrower. Poor Robinson had Christian Hackenberg throwing him balls at Penn State. Even though Robinson got hurt in Week 1 this year, he had to deal with Blake Bortles‘ inconsistencies in his first year in the league.
Carr isn’t the most precise passer, but he would be thrilled to have either former Pro Bowl joining his receiving corps. No, this is not a deep free agency class, but the wide receiver group definitely has some players.
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Oakland shouldn’t be frugal in targeting a wide receiver should the Raiders move on from Crabtree. It is absolutely worth paying a premium if the Silver and Black can land either Landry or Robinson. Adding either would make the Raiders better and either the Dolphins or Jaguars worse.