The Oakland Raiders have agreed to trade wide receiver Amari Cooper, their 2015 first-round pick, to the Dallas Cowboys for a first-round pick in next year’s draft.
The acquisition of Cooper, a two-time Pro Bowler, gives quarterback Dak Prescott and the Cowboys their first true No. 1 receiver since releasing Dez Bryant in the offseason. Dallas also hopes this move will help them fill a huge hole in their lineup.
Something that’s become clear this season is that no one in the Cowboys wide receiving corps has been able to step up and fill the void left by Bryant. The Cowboys’ front office is hoping Cooper can fulfill that role to help them compete for a playoff spot and boost the Cowboys’ anemic passing game, which ranks 28th in the league in yards (1282) and 29th in yards per game (183).
This trade confirms that the Raiders have decided to embark on a full rebuild and given up on a season that has gone off the cliff after a 1-5 start that has puzzled many fans and front office personnel.
After not being able to reach a deal with holdout Khalil Mack, their 2014 first-round pick and Pro Bowl linebacker on September 1, the Raiders now part ways with Cooper to get what now becomes their third first-round pick in next year’s NFL draft.
At this point, the Raiders are on full fire sale mode and it’s not out of the question that more moves could happen in the next few days before next Tuesday’s trade deadline as GM Reggie Mckenzie confirmed today that nobody on the roster is untouchable.
Recent reports have suggested that quarterback Derek Carr might, in fact, be on the trading block following a disastrous start to the season for the former Pro Bowl signal-caller.
