Amari Cooper and the Antonio Brown Trade

[Stash]

Some have said that "Gruden has replaced Amari Cooper and two mid-round picks with Antonio Brown and a first-rounder. That's a ridiculous upgrade" but is it really? Let's break it down.

Amari Cooper (24 year old) Top 5 Pick was traded for a Late 1st rounder= Massive fail. Based on what he did in Dallas after he left, the Raiders and Gruden had massive egg on their face

Antonio Brown (31 Year Old) was acquired for a 3rd and 5th round pick and paid $50 million dollars just to attempt to remove the egg that's on their face from the Cooper trade. Problem with the trade is AB is older, he has an attitude problem and the trade does not fit the Raider Model of rebuilding. Production wise Antonio Brown who was catching 100-120 balls a year with 12-15 TD's will probably be a 70-80 catch guy in Oakland and score 7-10 TD's next year and then down from there. He may breakout in the first season to prove himself but by the time the Raiders get to Las Vegas in 2020, AB will be 32 and clearly on the back 9 of his career, not a great situation for the Las Vegas Raiders. They paid for past production. They will roll into Vegas with the "Oldest" WR tandem in the NFL 35 year old Jordy Nelson and 32 year old Antonio Brown. Would have been awesome back in 2015, great work Gruden.

In the end:

Raiders Lose - 24 year old Amari Cooper (Top 5 Pick), 3rd round pick, 5th Round Pick

Raiders Gain - Late 1st rounder and an aging 31 year old veteran with a $50 Million dollar contract

EPIC FAIL

The "EPIC FAIL" is this thread, which shows that Cowboys fans will try to convince themselves - and anyone dumb enough to listen - that things have to look great for the Cowboys at every turn.

 

[Stash]

Great thread, was thinking about posting the same premise.

$30.1M guaranteed. How much will Coop command in his new Cowboy deal?

Uh, more than that. Much more. But rest assured Cowboys fans will be justifying it.

 

[Redball Express]

Oakland needs a home run with the late 1st round pick they acquired from us to make this pan out. AB "was" dominant but he's turning 31 in July and for $50 Million and two draft picks this seems like a reach, IMO

No doubt but Oakland needs to sell tickets for their move.

So AB will serve the purpose.

What I wonder is if Carr is still their QB going forward or do they draft a QB high with one of their picks?

Hmmm.

 

[John813]

Raiders traded Cooper cause his agent is the same that Mack has .

It's not that complicated.

Cooper wasn't putting up the same numbers from his first two years and a 3-5 team offered their first.

It's not an epic fail .

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

25 and 31 make you feel better? AB turns 31 in July

Yeah, present the facts as they are; not as you want them to be.

Cooper turns 25 in June BTW.

 

[Diehardblues]

They also lost a top 5 pick and picked up a 31 year old with a 50 million dollar contract

They lost a 5th and 3rd round pick not a top 5 pick.

 

[Brooksey]

Yeah, present the facts as they are; not as you want them to be.

Cooper turns 25 in June BTW.

I could care less about Cooper's birthday, he should be getting better. AB is turning 31, nobody is "adding" a year, he's on the back 9

 

[Brooksey]

The "EPIC FAIL" is this thread, which shows that Cowboys fans will try to convince themselves - and anyone dumb enough to listen - that things have to look great for the Cowboys at every turn.

If Dallas made this trade and we got rid of our top 5 pick and signed an aging 31 year old veteran for his past performance you would be upset, I know u would.

 

[Diehardblues]

The "EPIC FAIL" is this thread, which shows that Cowboys fans will try to convince themselves - and anyone dumb enough to listen - that things have to look great for the Cowboys at every turn.

Yea. I try to look past the Homers. After all we need cheerleaders on the sidelines. Ha

 

[Brooksey]

Raiders traded Cooper cause his agent is the same that Mack has .

It's not that complicated.

Cooper wasn't putting up the same numbers from his first two years and a 3-5 team offered their first.

It's not an epic fail .

So was that Coopers fault? Is Dak a better passer then Carr? Why not build around your top 5 picks. Oakland chose to move Amari and Mack. It's not going to be easy replacing that talent and (age) unless you have two more top 5 picks or get very lucky. Maybe Mayock can find some hidden gems

 

[Brooksey]

Yea. I try to look past the Homers. After all we need cheerleaders on the sidelines. Ha

Show me a thread where I ever cheerlead for this front office bro, we haven't won a damn thing in 25 years. Fact is we got the better of this deal, IMO.

 

[Silver N Blue]

They lost a 5th and 3rd round pick not a top 5 pick.

Exactly and to add to your point Cooper hasn’t come close to living up to his lofty top five pick status.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

I could care less about Cooper's birthday, he should be getting better. AB is turning 31, nobody is "adding" a year, he's on the back 9

“Nobody is adding a year,” but that’s precisely what you did to try and make a point.

Everyone is turning another year old.

I’m not arguing the point that AB is on the wrong side of 30.

 

[HungryLion]

Exactly and to add to your point Cooper hasn’t come close to living up to his lofty top five pick status.

3 pro bowls in 4 years and an All Pro appearance.

Yeah really underachieving for a top 5 pick.....

 

[Stash]

If Dallas made this trade and we got rid of our top 5 pick and signed an aging 31 year old veteran for his past performance you would be upset, I know u would.

If Dallas turned that into the best receiver in football and added a first round pick, I'd be doing cartwheels, and so would you.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

Show me a thread where I ever cheerlead for this front office bro, we haven't won a damn thing in 25 years. Fact is we got the better of this deal, IMO.

Can you name the last time any team had paid a 1st rounder for a veteran reciever?

I didn’t like the trade initially but Cooper proved to be a game changer.

That said, we paid a hefty price that’s not historically been paid. In fact, the only team I can really think of that’s spent 1st rounders in trades for veteran receivers is Dallas (Galloway and Roy Williams); even Randy Moss didn’t net a 1st rounder.

 

[Jipper]

Are we trying to convince ourselves that we would rather have cooper than brown and a 1st round pick....

I think that's what it comes down to....people still not convinced it was a good trade for us....I think it was an awesome pickup and I'd take him and his great attitude over brown and his drama any day

 

[Stash]

Show me a thread where I ever cheerlead for this front office bro, we haven't won a damn thing in 25 years. Fact is we got the better of this deal, IMO.

No we didn't.

We did well on our end, the Raiders just did much better after all is said and done.

It's OK to concede the truth.

 

[Brooksey]

“Nobody is adding a year,” but that’s precisely what you did to try and make a point.

Everyone is turning another year old.

I’m not arguing the point that AB is on the wrong side of 30.

I see your point I did not mention 24 to 25 because it helps...30 to 31 hurts. It's the NFL, come on you know that

 

[HungryLion]

I get it, people are bitter by the cowboys performance for the last two decades.

But the fact we are finding ways to complain about the cowboys trading a #27 pick for a young pro bowl receiver. Because they think the raiders did better.....

Even though the raiders didn’t even use the picks yet so who knows the type of player they get....