Raiders 2016 NFL Draft Radar: Wide receiver

Last offseason, wide receiver was the biggest need on the team. Then the Raiders added Michael Crabtree and drafted Amari Cooper at 4th overall. Late last season they locked up Crabtree long term, giving them their two starters for the next few years. More is needed, however.

Derek Carr still needs more dependable targets and playmakers in the receiving corps. Seth Roberts was the only other receiver last season to speak of and that's not going to get it done. Here are those receivers in this draft who could give Carr and the Raiders the target they need along with the round they could be selected.

Sterling Shepard, Oklahoma - Round 2

There are no receivers in this draft more proven than Shepard. Starting 41 games in four seasons at Oklahoma, he has more career receiving yards (3482) than any other wide receiver projected in the first two days of this draft. He had 86 catches last season for 1288 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was targeted 118 times last season and had just 4 drops according to Pro Football Focus figures. His 16.5 yards per catch over the past two seasons is also among the best in college football. What a dynamic presence he would be in this Raiders offense.

Daniel Braverman, Western Michigan - Round 5

Prior to this offseason, not many people were talking about Daniel Braverman. When you follow up an 86 catch season by reeling in 106 catches for 1370 yards and catching 78.5% of passes thrown your way, you tend to turn some heads. Braverman is as pure a slot receiver as you'll find, which is a valuable commodity in the NFL these days.

Demarcus Ayers, Houston - Round 5-6

He's not as electric as Sterling Shepard, but his hands and productivity are right up there with him. Ayers caught 99 passes last season with just TWO drops. At 5-9, 182 pounds, he's on the small side, and his 4.72 40-yard-dash at the scouting combine didn't help his cause. Then you watch him on the field and realize there's a big difference between combine speed and football speed. You watch him weave through traffic on a return and outrun the entire coverage team and you tend to forget what he did in shorts. And you watch him catch everything anywhere near him with an impressive 7.5 yards after the catch and you forget his measurables altogether.

Byron Marshall, Oregon - Round 6

Weapon. That's what Marshall is. A true triple threat. The only player in Pac-12 history to put up over 1000 yards rushing and 1000 yards receiving in consecutive seasons. He also returns kicks and punts. This San Jose native very much has a running back build at 5-9, 201 pounds, which means the Raiders could move him around. Perhaps even drafting him to play running back who can catch passes out of the backfield or be sent to split out wide with an audible.

Demarcus Robinson, Florida - Round 7

Intriguing talent with character concerns, making him just the type of player on whom the Raiders would take a flier in the final round. Though he's just 6-1, he is long, with leaping ability that has him able to go up high to get just about any ball. He has the talent and upside of a day two pick, but having been suspended four times by two different staffs at Florida will have some teams passing him up.

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