Oakland Raiders: Full Position Breakdown, Depth-Chart Analysis at Wide Receiver
The Oakland Raiders wide receiver depth combined with quarterback Derek Carr’s expected progression potentially propels the passing offense into top-10 rankings for the 2015 season.
No, it’s not false hope.
The Raiders are stocked at WR, thanks to an offseason talent overhaul at the position. General manager Reggie McKenzie provided Carr ample tools to succeed in the vertical attack.
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Raiders’ Big Three
Michael Crabtree, Amari Cooper and Rod Streater—in that pecking order—serve as the best WR trio wearing silver and black in recent memory.
The most established WR, Crabtree, should have a breakout season. When healthy and engaged in the game plan, he’s the low-end No. 1 option.
Last season, he seemed nonchalant and disengaged with the San Francisco 49ers' sputtering offense. The 2012 season was his best year, racking up 1,105 yards and nine touchdowns, as the 49ers made the transition between quarterbacks Alex Smith and Colin Kaepernick.
As Crabtree enters a pivotal contract year, pending his health status, expect Carr to lean on the veteran for early-season gains in the passing attack.
Cooper is the flash that attracts the casual fans to watch Raiders’ games. The former Alabama product adds a new vigor to the offense and, dare I say, makes Oakland an attractive Monday Night Football draw for 2016 and beyond.
The 21-year-old polished receiver won’t top 1,000 yards this season splitting receptions with fellow WRs Crabtree, Streater and a dual set of playmaking tight ends. Cooper will, however, live up to his billing.
He’ll give defenses fits on the outside, across the middle and in the slot. He’s well ahead of his years but far from a finished product, meaning he’ll have some drops and jitters in his first year working with a new QB. Eventually, he'll emerge as Carr’s No. 1 option late in the season.
The last time Streater and Carr were on the field during the regular season, it was underwhelming. Nonetheless, another full offseason together should fix some of the kinks in their rapport.
In 2014, over the span of three games Streater caught nine passes for 84 yards and one touchdown. It was a slow start, but Carr’s offseason improvements as a QB should benefit Streater’s production out of the slot.
Streater produced with backup QB Matt McGloin under center. McGloin is a solid talent, but the upgrade with Carr in a full season should propel Streater’s numbers back to where they were in 2013.
Andre Holmes in Limbo
It’s rare to see a former team-leading receiver pushed to the back of the WR depth chart, but the influx of talent placed Andre Holmes in that predicament.
The Raiders felt little trepidation in losing the WR during the offseason. Fox Sports reporter Mike Garafolo tweeted an intriguing move by the Raiders:
"Intriguing RFA move: Raiders gave WR Andre Holmes the low tender, meaning no compensation if a team signs him. Could be interest.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 7, 2015"
No compensation for your leading receiver? That explains the overhaul at the position. The Raiders knew the draft was stacked with WR talent, and McKenzie likely kept the pursuit of Randall Cobb in mind. He missed on Cobb but compensated with Crabtree and Cooper. Where does that leave Holmes?
The 6’4”, 210-pound receiver sits behind the Raiders top three receivers in a solid No. 4 spot. His sheer size should be used in red-zone situations after heavy lifting from the three receivers slotted ahead of him on the depth chart.
In a weird twist of fate, Crabtree, Streater and Holmes are all 27 years old, playing in pivotal contract years. Oakland will likely re-sign two of the three receivers to keep alongside Cooper in the immediate future.
Austin Willis the Answer on Kick and Punt Returns?
Not much buzz about Austin Willis until now. The Raiders waived seventh-round pick Andre Debose, per Williamson, who locked down the return position from the early beginnings of OTAs.
Now, Willis who’s a 5’9”, 176-pound speed receiver from Emporia State in Kansas stands a legitimate chance of filling a void as a return specialist. Willis was a superior receiver in comparison to Debose, per SilverandBlackPride.com writer Levi Damien:
"By his junior year, he was a starter on offense, catching 45 passes for 911 yards. He was lethal after the catch, averaging 20 yards per catch with 5 of his 10 touchdowns from 50 yards or more.
Over his final two seasons, he caught over 100 passes for 1668 yards. Though he caught more passes as a senior (56), his overall receiving yards went down (757) due in part to injuries at the quarterback position.
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However, it’s Willis’ speed as a complementary attribute to his good hands that provide him a solid opportunity of maintaining a roster spot in August.
Willis fielded punts and kicks during Day 2 of mandatory minicamp, per Damien:
“Tuesday it was punt fielding, so today it was kick fielding. The unit out there today at kick returner was Latavius Murray, Taiwan Jones, Trindon Holliday, Austin Willis, and Trent Richardson.”
The undersized undrafted free agent doesn’t stand at a long shot to make the 53-man roster pending his development as a kick returner. Willis could be everything the Raiders wanted Debose to become as a dual-threat return specialist and speed receiver. In fact, his speed and good hands challenge Josh Harper in his quest to solidify a roster spot.
Brice Butler, Kenbrell Thompkins and Josh Harper, Who Gets Released?
The Raiders' WR depth chart is overcrowded, which indicates some imminent tough roster cuts. Harper, Brice Butler and Kenbrell Thompkins—one of these WRs will get the ax at some point, but who?
Thompkins has been the underrated gem of OTAs and minicamp, per Damien:
"Probably the best looking receiver on the day was Kenbrell Thompkins. He made a nice fingertip grab up the right sideline from Christian Ponder. Thompkins had a good day on Tuesday as well and is currently firmly among the top five receivers on the team. Though having Brice Butler sidelined probably ensures that at the moment.
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Thompkins would sit behind Holmes on the depth chart based on this observation as a top five receiver. It’s early, but the coaching staff put Thompkins on the field for 320 snaps compared to Butler’s 278 snaps in 2014, per Pro Football Focus. There’s a new staff in town, but Thompkins came out impressive before the offseason layoff.
Injuries have hurt Butler early and late in the process of earning trust from the new coaching staff, per CSNBayArea.com reporter Scott Bair:
"Doesn't look like Sio Moore is practicing, as expected. Brice Butler (shoulder) and Taiwan Jones also watching from the sideline.
— Scott Bair (@BairCSN) April 23, 2015"
Last week, he suffered an undisclosed injury during mandatory minicamp, per Damien:
"T.J. Carrie, Sio Moore, and Brice Butler were all limited. Carrie and Butler worked in drills but were sidelined for team sessions. Carrie was noticeably limping on Tuesday but practiced through it. Butler was hurt in practice yesterday and was a no-go for teams sessions late in practice."
Josh Harper has put together a solid offseason working with Carr sticking his head in the playbook to expedite his learning process. Politics also play a role here.
Harper has played with Carr and holds an advantage over Butler due to familiarity. Williamson gives Harper a high probability of making the 53-man roster:
"Josh Harper is another young player who needs to be considered. Harper was very productive at Fresno State and he was widely considered one of the best undrafted free agents available. Harper had 79 catches for 1,011 yards, 13 touchdowns in 2013 with Carr tossing him passes. There is clear chemistry there.
If Harper has a good training camp and preseason, I could see him making the 53-man roster. But he will have to beat out either Brice Butler or Kenbrell Thompkins for the sixth receiver spot.
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You’d be kidding yourself not to consider politics a factor here. The Raiders clearly want Carr as comfortable as possible in his attempt to fulfill the role of a franchise QB.
It’s not a coincidence Harper was brought on board so quickly after the draft as an undrafted free agent.
Just like it’s no coincidence offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave brought in QB Christian Ponder from their days in Minnesota or offensive line coordinator Mike Tice reunited with tackle J’Marcus Webb from their days in Chicago or defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. reunited with linebacker Malcolm Smith from their days in Seattle or even linebackers coach Sal Sunseri reunited with Mario Edwards Jr. from their days at Florida State.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking the NFL is all about production. Networking helps tremendously when two players are close enough in talent equivalency. If Harper and Butler stand on the cutting floor, Butler gets the ax. I know that upsets the Butler fan club, but it’s the cold hard truth.
In 2014, Butler had an opportunity to show solid production within a depleted WR corps, but he fell short with 280 receiving yards and two touchdowns as the third-best WR on the roster. He’s a popular player among Raider Nation, but this business isn’t based on a popularity contest.
Harper has Carr’s ear on and off the field, and thus far, it has paid off even without Carr throwing much early in the offseason, per Damien:
"Though Carr was out, Harper still caught some nice balls. One in particular came on a perfect pass from undrafted rookie Cody Fajardo along the left sideline. Fajardo put it over Harper's shoulder where only he could get it and Harper pulled it in, tapped his toes inbounds for a very nice grab."
Both Harper and Thompkins have impressed, while Butler battled injuries.
Right now, Butler fights an uphill battle for the No. 5 or No. 6 WR spot. It’s important he returns for training camp healthy and ready to impress over the competition.
Which wide receiver gets the ax? You can follow Maurice Moton on Twitter and give your input! The opinions of the Brice Butler fan club are also welcome.
Advanced statistics provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com and Pro Football Focus.
Player contracts provided by Spotrac.
Player measurements courtesy of Raiders.com.
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