ALAMEDA _ The Raiders moved to address a longstanding issue at wide receiver Thursday night with the selection of Alabama’s Amari Cooper with the fourth pick in the first round of the NFL draft.
Cooper, winner of the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the top receiver in college football, caught 124 passes for 1,727 yards and 16 touchdowns. Cooper brings a consistent threat to second-year quarterback Derek Carr to go along with free agent signee Michael Crabtree from the 49ers.
The need for a wide receiver even outweighed the love of defense by general manager Reggie McKenzie and Jack Del Rio, as USC defensive tackle Leonard Williams was still on the board and would have been a tempting player to team with last year’s top pick Khalil Mack.