The 2016 season was a wild one for the Oakland Raiders. They finally evolved from punchline to promising, and the future looks bright for the Silver and Black. However, now that the season is over, it’s time to reflect on the season that was. The Last Word on Pro Football Raiders department will be breaking down each position group over the next couple of weeks. Today, the topic of conversation is the wide receivers.
Oakland Raiders End of Season Evaluation: Wide Receivers
Of all the position groups on the offense, the wide receiving corps was arguably the best. The Oakland Raiders boast arguably the NFL’s best receiving duo, and even the supporting cast have made big plays in big games. Having said that, there’s no better place to start than with Oakland’s most talented pass catcher.
Amari Cooper
The second year wide out from Alabama was just as exhilarating in 2016. This season, Amari Cooper caught 83 passes for 1,153 yards, and five touchdowns this season. Every single time that Amari Cooper touches the ball, he’s a risk to take it to the house. He’s got everything you need in an explosive play-maker.
Cooper managed to shake of the drop problem he had as a rookie, and with another year of NFL experience and practice with Derek Carr, he could be even better in 2017. If the Raiders are going to win a Super Bowl, Amari Cooper is going to play a big role.
Michael Crabtree
Michael Crabtree had a spotty season. On one hand, he caught 89 passes for 1,003 yards, and eight touchdowns. On the other, he led the NFL in drops. Crabtree made plenty of impressive, clutch catches, especially on third down, but he also dropped some really passes. His drops weren’t bad enough to cost him his roster spot, but he’ll have to clean up his act in 2017. Derek Carr has had more passes dropped than any other quarterback since the beginning of 2015, and Crabtree trails only Brandon Marshall in that category.
Seth Roberts
Seth Roberts is the ultimate boom or bust player. An undrafted receiver, Seth Roberts managed to catch 38 passes for 397 yards and five touchdowns as the team’s third receiver. Roberts has been known to make clutch plays in big games, but he’s also remarkably unreliable. Two years ago, the Raiders lost to the Denver Broncos because Roberts simply didn’t look for a pass, and it was intercepted.
Roberts is a good piece, but not someone the Raiders should rely on. Reggie McKenzie and company should consider looking for another receiver in the middle rounds of the draft or in free agency, because Roberts is a liability. In a passing league, with one of the NFL’s best young quarterbacks, the slot receiver can’t drop 15% of his passes.
Andre Holmes
Most relegated to special teams at this point, Andre Holmes only caught 14 passes for 126 yards, but he managed to score three times. In his fifth NFL season, Holmes is nothing more than a role player. His route tree isn’t phenomenal, and despite being 6’4 and extremely fast, he doesn’t serve as a true burner. His contract expires this year, and there’s a chance he won’t be back in 2017.
Grade
The Oakland Raider receiving corps gets a solid B+. While the unit has elite potential, the drops are just killer. When Derek Carr went out, the receivers didn’t do Matt McGloin or Connor Cook any favors. They didn’t show up in the playoffs, and the Raiders should look to add another piece in the off-season.
