Raiders were not going to pay him
If there is one thing the Raiders have shown since Jon Gruden came to town, it is that they are not going to pay big money for talent. With a ton of cash already locked up in quarterback Derek Carr, the Raiders even let star defensive end Khalil Mack walk, and the same was likely for Amari Cooper after next season.
The Raiders exercised Cooper’s fifth-year option back in April, and were on the hook to pay him nearly $14 million in 2019. However, Cooper has the same agent as Mack, and the expectation was he would sit out until he received a long-term extension, with a pay raise.
If the Raiders were not willing to pay Mack, paying Cooper was definitely off the table, especially with him expecting to be paid like an elite wide receiver. The Raiders made it known Cooper was available last week, and once a first round pick was dangled in front of them, they had to make the deal.