The Oakland Raiders passed on another big defensive talent, Leonard Williams, to find a new weapon for young quarterback Derek Carr. The team selected Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper with the No. 4 overall pick in the NFL Draft.
Cooper was seen as one the safest picks in the draft because of his football intelligence, strong hands and excellent route-running skills. He'll add a talented pair of hands to a wide receiver group that recently added Michael Crabtree to the mix -- joining James Jones, Andre Holmes, Rod Streater and tight end Mychal Rivera.
Seen as the most pro-ready receiver in the class, Cooper has drawn comparisons to Torry Holt, Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne for his smooth skills. Oakland had a surprisingly good offensive line in pass protection last year and Carr did not have enough help at running back or wideout.
General manager Reggie McKenzie has been on the hot seat since nearly the day he was hired. He may have saved his job last year by drafting Mack and Carr. If McKenzie strikes gold with Cooper, perhaps this offense will finally be on the upswing for good.
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