Sportsnaut
The Las Vegas Raiders had a busy day on the eve of the cuts deadline. They signed a familiar face at wide receiver, traded for a backup quarterback and fielded a trade request from a key offensive playmaker. Raiders Daily breaks down what it means for the team as it trims the depth chart down to 53 players.
The Raiders inked a one-year deal worth up to $6 million with Amari Cooper, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Under former general manager Reggie McKenzie, the club selected him with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2015 draft.
In four seasons with the Raiders, Cooper caught 225 passes for 3,183 yards and 19 touchdowns. Midway through the 2018 campaign, the club, under McKenzie and head coach Jon Gruden, traded him to the Dallas Cowboys for a 2019 first-round pick, which it used to draft safety Johnathan Abram.
After his time in Oakland, Cooper eclipsed 1,100 receiving yards twice with the Cowboys and twice with the Cleveland Browns. He started to show signs of decline with the Browns and Buffalo Bills last year, finishing the 2024 term with career lows in catches (44), receiving yards (547) and touchdowns (four).
That said, Cooper played through a nagging wrist injury that forced him to miss two games in the previous season. He also sat out one game due to personal reasons. If healthy, the 31-year-old could have a bounce-back year as the second or third option in Las Vegas’ aerial attack.
Just two years ago, Cooper racked up a career-high 1,250 receiving yards, averaging 17.4 yards per catch with the Browns. He can be a big-play wideout who brings veteran balance to a relatively young receiver group.
Read More: Las Vegas Raiders Acquire 5x Pro Bowl WR After Jakobi Meyers Trade Request
The Raiders didn’t waste time adding depth to their quarterback room. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, they sent a 2026 fifth-round pick to the Browns in exchange for Kenny Pickett.
Last Sunday, head coach Pete Carroll said he wanted an experienced signal-caller. Pickett checks that box with 25 starts in three seasons, throwing for 4,765 yards, 15 touchdowns and 14 interceptions with a 62.4 percent completion rate.
Instead of claiming someone off waivers or signing a free agent, general manager John Spytek made an aggressive move to acquire a backup quarterback, which could mean the end of O’Connell’s time as the No. 2 option at the position.
O’Connell and Pickett will be the same age in September, though the latter is more mobile than the former. As O’Connell recovers from a fractured wrist, don’t be surprised if offensive coordinator Chip Kelly works on developing Pickett, who has more perceived upside with his mobility.
Keep in mind that Raiders vice president of player personnel Brandon Hunt served as the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ pro scouting director when the team drafted Pickett in the first round...
