Oakland Raiders: Full Position Breakdown and Depth-Chart Analysis at WR
How much better are the Oakland Raiders at wide receiver this year?
We won't know until the season begins, but on paper, the wide receiving corps is vastly improved from last season, when Andre Holmes led the team with 693 receiving yards.
The Raiders added major reinforcements through free agency and the draft. Those additions, combined with the continued development of last year's returning wide receivers, have this unit suddenly looking like it might be dangerous.
A lot can happen between now and the start of the season, and battles for positioning on the depth chart are going to continue through training camp. But given what we know so far, here's an early look at what Oakland's wide receiver depth chart could look like in 2015.
Practice Squad
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The Oakland wide receivers were criticized in 2014. And for the most part, that criticism was well-founded. It just wasn't a good group, but it's come a long way since. The unit is surprisingly deep now, which means that some intriguing prospects won't make the final cut and will instead be prime candidates for development on the practice squad.
Josh Harper
In the "who knows what tomorrow will bring" world of undrafted rookies, Josh Harper is in a fairly good situation now that he's rejoined college teammate Derek Carr.
Per CBSSports.com, while playing with Carr at Fresno State during the 2013-14 season, Harper totaled 79 catches for 1,011 yards and 13 touchdowns. The following season, he was arguably better as he finished with more receptions (90) and yards (1,097).
Now that he's reunited with Carr in Oakland, Harper has an opportunity to continue that success.
While he has a steep hill to climb, Harper does have a shot—a long shot but a shot nonetheless—at making the final roster. However, it's more likely that he'll be one of the final cuts and end up on Oakland's practice squad, where the team can develop him for next year.
Seth Roberts
Seth Roberts joined Oakland last year as an undrafted rookie. He failed to make the final 53-man roster at any point in the season, but the Raiders stashed him on the practice squad. Ideally, a player spends a year on the practice squad, hones his craft and makes an impact the following year.
Unfortunately, that won't be the case for Roberts in 2015. The depth chart ahead of him is even better now than it was a year ago, making it even more difficult for him to crack the final roster.
However, that doesn't change the fact that Roberts is 6'2" and 196 pounds, which is good size for a receiver. And as SilverandBlackPride.com's Levi Damien reported, he ran a 4.44-second 40-yard dash at his pro day coming out of college last year, so he has the speed.
A spot on the final roster isn't a possibility for Roberts as of now, but his size and speed make him an intriguing enough prospect to remain on the practice squad for another season.
No 6: Kenbrell Thompkins
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According to ESPN.com's Bill Williamson, "The Raiders are deep at receiver and may need to keep six."
"Raiders" and "deep at receiver" are not two things you heard in the same sentence last season. But in 2015, the reality is that Oakland has a lot of options at the position.
The Raiders will keep at least five receivers, but a sixth isn't guaranteed. Still, as last year's depth chart shows, the Raiders ended the season with six receivers on the active roster. This means that it's possible that the team keeps six again this year, especially given the sudden depth at the position.
If the Raiders opt to go with six wide receivers, Kenbrell Thompkins is the favorite to land the final spot.
A midseason addition last year, he played in 12 games and finished the season with 209 yards on 15 receptions, including a career-best 50-yard reception in the Week 16 win against the Buffalo Bills.
He saw increased playing time as the season progressed despite the fact that he never did anything in a game to justify the decision. At times, it seemed as if the coaches were forcing Thompkins into the offensive game plan.
In October, we finally got an answer for his increased playing time from then-offensive coordinator Greg Olson, via a tweet from the San Francisco Chronicle's Vic Tafur: "Olson said Thompkins getting more playing time than Butler last week also has to do with 'production in practice.'"
That "production in practice" might have been impressive, but it never translated to game days. But that doesn't take away from the fact that Thompkins was such a standout in practice that it led to more in-game opportunities.
At 6'1" and 195 pounds, he has the measurables for the position. He also has good speed and the ability to work over the middle and down the sidelines. He's a promising work in progress with NFL experience, which is the type of player you keep at the bottom of the depth chart.
No. 5: Brice Bulter
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Last year, the coaching staff underappreciated and underutilized Brice Butler. But in the rare moments when he did get a chance to show what he can do, h impressed.
The best example came in Week 6 against the San Diego Chargers. He caught a five-yard pass, turned upfield and ran by five defenders on his way to a 47-yard touchdown.
On this one play, Butler exhibited good hands, good burst and great straight-line speed. In other words, he showed true playmaking potential, something that was in short supply in Oakland's offense.
The fact is that when Butler did get a chance to step on the field, he was arguably one of Oakland's top three receivers.
Yet despite these flashes, he never saw a major uptick in opportunities. But the new, more experienced coaching staff should give him the playing time that he's earned. He might begin the year low on the depth chart, but it wouldn't at all be a surprise to see him work his way into more playing time.
Because of his untapped potential, Butler is arguably the most intriguing wide receiver on the roster heading into this season.
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No. 4: Andre Holmes
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At 6'4" and 210 pounds, Andre Holmes looks the part of a No. 1 wide receiver. He has the speed to stretch the field and the leaping ability to make the catch in traffic.
Unfortunately, when he had the opportunity to be the team's top receiver last season, he wasn't quite up to the task. Too often he disappeared in games, and he also struggled at times pulling in catchable passes.
He was simply too inconsistent.
One thing that became evident in 2014 is what Holmes truly is: a downfield threat. He's at his best when he can run downfield and try to make a play. Aside from that, he's limited.
Holmes is in a unique situation because his playing style limits what the coaches can do with him. He's not going to play in the slot, and intermediate routes aren't his strong suit. He's at his best when he can get deeper downfield to capitalize on his speed and ability to make a catch in space.
He has a ton of potential and can play an important role within the offense. But it's clear now that that role is not at the top of the wide receiver depth chart. The best place for Holmes is in a limited role that makes use of his abilities in specific situations that play to his strengths.
It's a big drop-off going from being the team's top receiving option and playing every offensive snap to being a player whose opportunities could be few and far between. But having Holmes as the No. 4 receiver is the best situation for both the player and the team.
He won't be expected to lead the passing attack, something that would only hurt his performance as well as that of the offense overall. Instead, the Raiders can use him as a passing-down specialist to stretch the field and take the top off the defense.
No. 3: Rod Streater
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What a difference a year makes.
Heading into the 2014 season, Rod Streater was Oakland's No. 1 wide receiver. He was going to get plenty of touches to make a name for himself. But a broken foot knocked him out for the season after only three games.
Now, just one season later, he's a forgotten man. For the most part, the discussion regarding Oakland's wide receivers has centered on Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree. Streater has been an afterthought, if he's though of at all.
But despite the lack of attention, he remains one of Oakland's most dangerous receiving weapons. One of his most overlooked attributes is his versatility. He can play on the outside as a No. 1 or No. 2 receiver. But he can be just as effective closer to the line of scrimmage.
Given the additions of Crabtree and Cooper, Streater will be relegated to the No. 3 receiver spot. This will actually be a blessing in disguise for him and a huge boost for the offense. The Raiders will be sending out a receiver with true No. 1 potential against the opponent's third or fourth cornerback.
The offense will be more explosive, and Streater will have more opportunities to make big plays.
No. 2: Michael Crabtree
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What the Oakland offense needs from its No. 2 wide receiver is reliability and consistency, and Michael Crabtree is perfect for the role.
The former first-round pick was expected by many to light up the NFL. Unfortunately, he's been slowed by various injuries, including a torn Achilles suffered back in 2013.
The injuries have had a negative effect on Crabtree's speed and quickness. But what haven't been affected are his hands. He's still a reliable pass-catcher who is capable of pulling in any pass that's within reach.
Crabtree also gives the offense options. Despite losing some speed, he's still fast enough to challenge defenders down the sidelines. He's not afraid to go over the middle, adding another dimension to the Oakland attack.
He might never have another season like the one he had in 2012 when he finished with 85 catches, 1,105 yards and nine touchdowns. Fortunately, that's not what Oakland needs from him. What the Raiders need from him is consistent, reliable production in every game. They need him to force the defense to respect his side of the field on every down.
And this is a role that Crabtree is more than capable of not only fulfilling but excelling in.
No. 1: Amari Cooper
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The Raiders drafted Amari Cooper to be the No. 1 wide receiver. And early on, reports indicate that the rookie is ready for the responsibility.
On Friday, ESPN NFL Insider Adam Caplan tweeted, "Early word on Raiders WR Amari Cooper, per team source: 'Real deal. Almost no mental errors. Runs great routes, consistent route runner.'"
What exactly is required of a No. 1 wide receiver is debatable, but here are a few things:
- He has to consistently get open no matter the defense.
- He needs to run most, if not all, of the route tree.
- He has to reel in any and all passes.
Cooper can do all of these. The physical tools were already evident, but what he's started to show is that his game is as polished as many thought.
When you take his elite physical attributes—speed, quickness, jumping ability—and combine it with his crisp route running and mental discipline, you get a dangerous, elite receiving threat.
The Raiders brought him in to lead the passing attack. There's still a long way to go before the start of the season, and we won't know what the rookie is capable of until then. But so far, he appears to be as good as advertised.
Unless otherwise noted, all stats taken from Pro-Football-Reference.com and NFL.com.
What's your projection for Oakland's wide receiver depth chart? Share your thoughts in the comments section below and on at Twitter @BrianJ_Flores.
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