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What condition Raiders position is in pre-free agency: Wide receiver

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We check on each Raiders position ahead of free agency to give it a condition of either Strong, Stable, Unstable, Serious, or Critical.

NFL: DEC 08 Raiders at Chiefs Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Starters: Amari Cooper, Michael Crabtree

Backups: Seth Roberts, Johnny Holton, Cordarrelle Patterson, Isaac Whitney, Keon Hatcher

Free agents: None

Just a season ago the Raiders had two 1000-yard receivers. Now there are serious questions with everyone taking big steps back.

Coop didn’t make the progress many expected him to make heading into his third NFL season. His focus was on being more aggressive and he bulked up in order to help him accomplish that. Unfortunately, he sat out most of training camp with a knee injury and all that bulking up would simply slow him down. He also began dropping the ball at an alarming rate. He injured himself again late in the season just to complete the disappointing year.

Crabtree had his worst numbers of any full season of his career. He was also ejected from a game and suspended for the following week for fighting with Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib. Late in the season, Crabtree was the forgotten man and he was among the players who were seen as a problem in the locker room. Though those rumors flew around about a lot of players and coaches so the issues on this team were clearly widespread.

Roberts had numbers pretty much on par with his usual. With the exception of his touchdowns falling to just one after having put up five each of his first two seasons. He tends to do the dirty work as a blocker, though doesn’t offer that speedy, quick qualities you look for in a standard slot receiver.

Holton is a deep threat, but hasn’t shown much more. Patterson’s contributions were mostly as a return man and the other two spent all or most of the season on the practice squad.

Condition: Serious

Crabtree’s on shaky ground with the team. They could move on from him, saving $7.7 million while leaving no dead money behind. What this team needs is a big target who can take the top off the defense. They don’t have that now. They also need an upgrade in the slot. Whether that means signing/drafting one or moving Amari Cooper inside. Either way, they need help.

See conditions of: QB I RB I TE I OT I OG I C I I DI I ED I LB I CB I S

Poll

What condition would you say the Raiders wide receiver position is in?

This poll is closed

  • 2%
    Strong
    (50 votes)
  • 15%
    Stable
    (344 votes)
  • 46%
    Unstable
    (1063 votes)
  • 23%
    Serious
    (528 votes)
  • 13%
    Critical
    (298 votes)
2283 votes total Vote Now