Amari Cooper started his NFL career with the Oakland Raiders. Drafted fourth overall in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft, the Alabama standout was supposed to be the offensive weapon that the Raiders were looking for.
Ironically, he performed well. During his star-studded career, he had five Pro Bowls, 10,033 receiving yards, and 64 receiving touchdowns. Additionally, he spent his decorated career with teams like the Dallas Cowboys and the Cleveland Browns.
So, what can go wrong with a second go-round with the Raiders? Las Vegas needs more receiver depth to help Geno Smith out. Furthermore, they need as much offensive firepower as they can get in the loaded AFC West. Therefore, a reunion was a match made in heaven…
…Except it wasn’t. Almost two weeks after signing a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders, the wide receiver retired. After 10 seasons, it’s all over. Now, the Raiders are hanging high and dry while the rest of the AFC West duke it out for supremacy.
What Are The Consequences Of Not Having Amari Cooper Around?
First, the wide receiver room looks rough. Obviously, you’d wish you had Cooper around to alleviate the pressure off of Jakobi Meyers. Aside from him, there isn’t much that the Raiders can rely on to give Geno Smith weapons.
Will Tre Tucker step up and take the burden off of him? What about Dont’e Thornton Jr.? That’s a ton of pressure to put on a 2025 fourth-round pick, specifically in his first full NFL season.
Secondly, you’re lacking weapons in a stacked AFC West. As mentioned, the division will be a gauntlet throughout the 2025 NFL season, whether it’s the Broncos or a Chargers team that just beat the AFC champions. You need as much talent as you can get to survive, which makes life even harder.
Cooper’s Retirement Is Another Bizarre Chapter In Raiders History
Let’s face it. The Las Vegas Raiders haven’t had much luck with building a winning franchise. It doesn’t matter if it’s dumb decisions (see Henry Ruggs) or bad draft picks (see JaMarcus Russell). The franchise can’t catch any breaks when it comes to building a winning culture.
Even with Tom Brady in the mix, the latest story doesn’t make matters better. A solid player who’s done great for the franchise that drafted him suddenly retires. Additionally, he leaves them hanging. That’s not good, especially if you’re trying to change the narrative.
However, the only thing you can do is persevere and hold your head up. That’s how Brady made a living as a legendary NFL quarterback, winning seven Super Bowls and breaking countless records. If the Raiders want to win, they can’t let this be a distraction.
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