The Oakland Raiders are in desperate need of a play-making receiver. After trading away Amari Cooper, the team is left with just Jordy Nelson, Marcell Ateman, Seth Roberts and Keon Hatcher heading into the 2019 season.
One option that has been mentioned is trading for current Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Antonio Brown. Brown has been the early talk of the NFL offseason as reports circulated that he gave up on his team and requested a trade following Week 17. A new report from ESPN's Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter even says a trade by March is likely.
Adding Brown would obviously be a massive boost to the Raiders or any team who acquires him. He is a seven-time Pro Bowler, four-time All Pro nominee and arguably the best receiver in all of football.
That being said, adding Brown won't come cheap.
If the Steelers were to trade Brown, they would still have to pay him $22.5 million for the 2019 season. Even though he may be a headache, the team was just one game out of the playoffs in 2018. Pittsburgh must really have to like the trade for them to deal their best offensive weapon.
From the Raiders perspective, that'll likely cost one of their later first round picks. While Brown is a proven commodity and a draft pick is more of a crap shoot, the Raiders' offense needs much more than just Antonio Brown. Dealing a first rounder, even for a player of Brown's quality, is a risky, and expensive move for a team who is rebuilding.
That being said, the Raiders still need receivers. The 2019 free agent market is weak with top options being Larry Fitzgerald, Devin Funchess and Adam Humphries. There is a chance that Oakland still turns to the trade market, but for much less expensive players than Brown.
While trading any draft pick would hurt the Raiders, moving a late rounder for a potential WR1 is a possibility that head coach Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock must explore. While this seems like more prediction than reporting, Raiders Beat has already said they expect Gruden to land a "big name" wideout.
None of these receivers are as big of a name as Antonio Brown. However, they will cost significantly less, and could help revamp the Oakland Raiders' offense.
John Ross, Cincinnati Bengals
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rZFftoTfqY John Ross' NFL career hasn't gotten off to the booming start many expected after he broke the 40-yard dash record at the 2017 NFL Combine. In fact, one stat has him as the worst receiver of 2018.That being said, Ross is just 24 years old and he's under team control until 2022 on a contract that never exceeds $6 million. Perhaps a change of scenery would help him find the potential many fans and analysts predicted after her was drafted ninth overall in 2017. Ross was forced into just three games his rookie season after suffering a shoulder injury. As a sophomore he appeared in 13 games, starting 10 and catching 21 passes for 210 yards and seven touchdowns. Had he qualified, his 16.2 yards per catch would've ranked 10th among all pass catchers in the NFL. The former Washington product had a prolific college career that saw him catch 114 passes for 1,729 yards and 22 touchdowns over three seasons. Entering the draft he was praised by many analysts including Pro Football Focus, who compared him to DeSean Jackson. PFF wrote:
While his speed is obviously his biggest asset, it’s not all Ross has. He knows how to get open using his footwork and can beat press coverage off the line with both his feet and his hands. He catches the ball consistently and once it’s in his hands, there’s very few better at seeing the field and finding open space. Ross can line up all over the field and make plays. Ross has the potential to be one of if not the most exciting receiver to come out of this draft.Outside of just PFF, many other draft analysts considered Ross one of the best receivers in the 2017 draft class. New Raiders' General Manager Mike Mayock had Ross as the second best wide receiver in the class, ahead of eventual No. 5 overall pick Corey Davis. He was the first wide reciever taken in Mayock's 2017 mock draft. Oakland's new GM referred to Ross as a, "dynamic playmaker." Clearly, Ross has some fans inside the Raiders' new front office. As for the Bengals, the team saw a breakout season from number two receiver Tyler Boyd in 2018. The former Pitt Panther caught 76 passes for 1,028 yards and seven touchdowns. Assuming his health is in check, he will enter next season as WR2 to A.J. Green's WR1. The Bengals might be willing to trade Ross for a draft pick as the team has multiple needs on the defensive side and Ross is no higher than their WR3. Ross has battled injuries during his time in the NFL and hasn't lived up to his pre-draft hype. However, he still has his blazing speed and has proven he has the ability to make big time plays. Ross would work as the Raiders deep threat and could see a career resurgance in a new offense manned by quarterback Derek Carr.
Devante Parker, Miami Dolphins
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LswOs4O8cV8 DeVante Parker is another former first-round draft pick who hasn't lived up to the hype in his short NFL career. However, unlike Ross, there have actually been rumblings of a potential trade in the past. With the Dolphins heading in a new direction at head coach, there's a decent chance Parker could be on the move. In his four years as a Dolphin, Parker has appeared in 54 games, starting 31. In that time he has caught 163 passes for 2,217 yards and nine touchdowns. Parker showed potential during his rookie season with an average of 19 yards per catch. That number would've ranked second in the NFL had he qualified. Parker was another favorite of Mayock prior to the draft. The Louisville product ranked as the third best receiver in the draft and the ninth best player in the entire draft. He was slotted 11th overall to the Vikings in his mock draft. Outside of just Mayock, Parker got rave reviews from other draft analysts. Bleacher Report's NFL team compared him to Los Angeles Chargers' receiver Keenan Allen, and wrote:Big, strong, polished and a nightmare in the red zone, DeVante Parker is worthy of a top-10 pick in this draft class. He plays much bigger than his listed size, with excellent leaping skills, extension and body positioning to be a threat in the air. His concentration and hand strength are top-tier, and he’ll rarely lose a 50/50 ball to the defense or a drop.Parker has excellent size at 6'3" 209 lbs. He also ran a respectable 4.45 40-yard dash at the 2015 NFL Combine. That size/speed combination could make him a force as an outside receiver. He has also shown he has the ball skills to jump against smaller cornerbacks and be a menace in the end zone. Parker's luster has somewhat diminished since being in the league. He has been a potential trade candidate for what seems like two seasons. However, that could be to the Raiders' gain. He likely wouldn't cost more than a late round pick and could potential function as a WR1 in the team's offense. He certainly needs to bounce back, and he definitely isn't a sure thing. But Parker still holds a high level of potential. Under team control until 2020, Derek Carr to DeVante Parker could become a common theme for the Oakland Raiders.
Marvin Jones, Detroit Lions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wD0uxsqFgh4 Of all the players on this list, Marvin Jones may be the most ambitious. He certainly isn't Antonio Brown, but he has shown his fair share of talent during his time in the NFL. In his seven year NFL career, Jones has caught 285 passes for 4,268 yards and 33 touchdowns. He struggled with injuries in 2018, but really broke onto the scene during the 2017 season. Starting all 16 games he caught 61 passes for 1,101 yards and nine touchdowns. Jones lead the league with an average of 18 yards per reception. Compared to Ross and Parker, Jones has proven he could succeed in the NFL. At just 28, a move to the Raiders would allow him to function as the team's WR1 in both the short and long-term. Jones is under contract until 2020 on a deal that never sees him surpass $10 million in cap space. At that price, Jones could be a solid bargain for a Raiders team desperate for outside receivers. Jones holds multiple similarities to former Raiders' receiver Amari Cooper. Jones stands at 6'2" compared to Cooper's 6'1" while Cooper ran a 4.42 40-yard dash compared to Jones' 4.46. It's hard to directly compare both players as they have had wildly different career trajectories. That being said, adding Jones would give the team a WR1 in the mold of Cooper, at least athletically. Derek Carr shined when having Cooper in the fold, adding Jones could perhaps bring the QB back into Pro-Bowl form. As for the Lions, the team already dealt Golden Tate at the 2018 trade deadline. While moving Jones would hurt their depth, the team has Kenny Golladay locked as their WR1. Head Coach Matt Patricia has also shown a propensity to run a more ground-and-pound type offense. Detroit was 18 in rushing attempts as Head Coach Matt Patricia frequently gave that ball to journeyman LeGarette Blount up the middle. With the Lions firing Offensive Coordinator Jim Bob Cooter, Patricia is likely to bring in an OC that fits his running style. It wouldn't be a shock to see the Lions run the ball even more in 2019. If that becomes the case, then Jones could be expendable for the right price. On the Raiders, Marvin Jones would function as the team's WR1 and step into a high-powered role. He doesn't garner the same amount of attention as AB, or even Cooper, but has proven he has what it takes to succeed in the NFL. He may not be a "big name" to some, but of the players on this list, Jones would likely make the most immediate impact.Keelan Cole, Jacksonville Jaguars
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVAy6BwhiOQ While Marvin Jones might be the most ambitious player on this list, Jaguars' receiver Keelan Cole might be the most underrated. However, the former undrafted free agent has shown a lot of potential during his time in the NFL and could be a major contributor with a change of scenery. Over his first two years in the league, Cole has appeared in all 32 games, starting 17. In that time he has caught 80 passes for 1,239 yards and four touchdowns. Cole was somewhat phased out of the offense in 2018, but shined in 2017 with 42 catches for 748 yards and three touchdowns. His 17.8 yards per reception was second in the league. Despite starting 11 games in 2018, Cole was used sparingly behind other receivers such as Donte Moncrief, Dede Westbrook and D.J. Chark. With reports of Jacksonville potential "blowing up" their roster in 2019, Cole could be on the move. If so, he makes sense for the Raiders contract wise as he is owed just $645,000 in 2019 before being a restricted free agent. Oakland can add him for cheap and see how he performs. If it is at his 2017 level, then they can keep Cole for the long-term. If he struggles, it is a minimal risk for a team in need of talented receivers. As for Cole's receiving chops, the Kentucky Weslyan product had an extremely productive college career, which put him on the map following the 2017 NFL Draft. Over his four years at KWC, Cole caught 205 passes for 4,303 yards and 53 touchdowns. As he began his NFL career Cole earned many fans among draft analysts including that of Hero Sports' Zach Prosba. Prosba, who had watched Cole play at KWC, wrote:Cole is the next great secret weapon to come out of Division II, and the first to do so from Kentucky Wesleyan. But as he continues to build up his name and play the way he has, he will be anything but a secret for much longer.Cole is an absolutely play-maker and has proven time and time again he has the ability to break any game open. While just the preseason, he impressed during his rookie season by scoring a 97-yard touchdown in his first ever game.
Cole is a low-cost, high-upside kind of addition for the Raiders. He won't cost much in terms of draft capital or cap space, and could give Oakland arguably the most talented receiver on their roster. As the Raiders look for big plays, the former Division II product could certainly be an option.
Laquon Treadwell, Minnesota Vikings
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xpts0wtvqTk We end the list with another player in the mold of John Ross/DeVante Parker. Laquon Treadwell marks another receiver who hasn't lived up to the hype yet in his short NFL career. However, he certainly still has fans in the draft community and could be an excellent buy-low candidate. In his three NFL seasons, Teadwell has caught 56 passes for 517 yards and one touchdown. He has functioned as an afterthought behind both Stefon Diggs and Adam Theilen. With Aldrick Robinson catching five touchdowns in 2018, it's more likely he is resigned rather than Treadwell receiving another opportunity. However, despite his poor start, like Ross and Parker, Treadwell was a favorite of Mike Mayock during the draft process. Mayock ranked Treadwell as the number one receiver and 23rd overall player in the 2016 draft class. He also predicted Treadwell would be drafted 23rd overall by the Minnesota Vikings in his annual mock, the spot he was actually selected in the actual 2016 NFL Draft. When Treadwell was selected, Maycok wrote:He's a natural hands catcher and will win 50-50 balls. (Treadwell is) also one of the best blocking wide receivers in this draft. He's physical, tough and has great hands. I think the Vikings got a winner.Outside of just Mayock, other NFL Draft analysts like Treadwell's game coming out of Ole Miss. Bleacher Report's NFL Draft team compared Treadwell to Anquan Boldin and assigned him a first round grade. The site wrote:
When the ball is in the air, Treadwell tracks it well over either shoulder. He can adjust his body to make basket catches and will also contort to turn back and leap over cornerbacks to pluck the ball off their backs. He's like a power forward fighting for a rebound when the ball goes up. In the red zone, Treadwell can be a nightmare for defenders. He's tall, long (33 ⅜-inch arms) and physical. A quarterback who can even get it close will love Treadwell's ability to score touchdowns.Treadwell may not have the hype that Ross or Parker does, however, he has shown in the past that he still has potential. Perhaps the right change of scenery and a new opportunity can help unlock his first-round traits. In Oakland he would be given that opportunity as he would likely be a starter. While he may not be Amari Cooper, there is a chance the Raiders can get the college version of Laquon Treadwell. If Mayock is able to reunite with his former first round pick, there is a chance the Raiders find a diamond in the rough at a very cheap price.
