The Las Vegas Raiders always seem to have some kind of drama right before the start of every season. Jakobi Meyers requesting a trade appeared like the biggest drama the team would have to deal with, but that’s no longer the case.
Recently, the Raiders signed veteran wide receiver Amari Cooper. The team’s former first-round pick was looking to finish what he started, but that will no longer be the case.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Cooper has informed the Raiders that he has decided to retire. He doesn’t have a desire to play football anymore and is walking away from the game.
This is a pretty shocking development for the Raiders. Cooper signed on August 26, so he has barely been on the team for over a week.
It’s unclear exactly what happened. Perhaps he didn’t believe he was going to have a big role with the Raiders, or once he got back into practice, he realized that he just didn’t want to play anymore. Regardless, this is a blow for the team as they were hoping he could provide some veteran stability to a very young wide receiver room.
With Meyers’ trade request still lingering over the team, having Cooper on the roster would’ve been a good insurance policy.
What Do Raiders Do Now?
Cooper likely wasn’t going to have a big role early in the season. He didn’t practice for months and still had to learn the system.
The good news for the Raiders is that his absence likely won’t change much about the game plan for Week 1. However, this does potentially hurt the team in the long run. Though he was coming off a down year, Cooper was a Pro Bowl player as recently as 2023.
The Raiders‘ wide receiver room was a big concern even with him on the roster, and now that he won’t be playing, it’s an even bigger concern, especially with Meyers wanting out.
There aren’t many great options available. Perhaps they could poach a guy like Gabe Davis off a practice squad, or sign a veteran free agent like Kendrick Bourne. That said, none of the available options has the potential that Cooper had. The Raiders will simply have to hope that their group of young wide receivers can make an impact early.
Dont’e Thornton Is a Player to Watch
With Cooper leaving the team, it’s up to Dont’e Thornton to step up. The rookie fourth-round pick was already listed as a starter on the depth chart, but he now doesn’t have much competition to hold onto that job.
Thornton has shown some very exciting flashes this offseason. He’s 6-foot-5 with 4.30 40-yard dash speed, which is a rare combination. He has the tools to be a special player, but the Raiders do need to be patient with him.
Even if he’s not fully ready, he’s going to have a big role this season. The Raiders need a young wide receiver to step up and he’s the most obvious candidate. If he plays at a high level, then the team won’t feel Cooper’s absence that much.
Key Raiders Veteran Abruptly Retires Right Before Start of Season