Former Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper had been the consensus No. 1 overall player at his position heading into the draft. That changed a tad with the emergence of West Virginia’s Kevin White during the draft process.
But as has been the case numerous times throughout the history of the draft, our first inclination was right.
Cooper was selected fourth overall by the Oakland Raiders which made him the first receiver off the board on Thursday night.
At 6’1″ and 211 pounds, Cooper possesses the size and physicality that the Raiders have obviously been looking for throughout the draft process. He should immediately come in and be one of the team’s two starting receivers opposite the newly signed Michael Crabtree.
Compared by some to Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones, the expectation has to be that Cooper will morph into Oakland’s No. 1 receiver at some point in the not-so-distant future. He also provides Derek Carr with the young target he so desperately needed.
Prior to declaring for the draft following his junior season, Cooper ranked No. 1 in the nation with 124 receptions for the Crimson Tide in 2014. Overall, the talented youngster tallied 228 receptions for nearly 3,500 yards in three seasons.
Oakland did pass up on defensive tackle Leonard Williams, who would have been stout ahead of Khalil Mack in the team’s front seven.
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