Oakland Raiders must prove Amari Cooper trade was right move

The Oakland Raiders weren’t lauded often in 2018. The Amari Cooper trade was one such moment.

At the trade deadline, the Oakland Raiders dealt the fourth-year receiver to the Dallas Cowboys for a first-round pick in April’s draft. Many believed the price was steep for Cooper, who had done little of note since the 2016 campaign. Then, Cooper took off with Dak Prescott and Co., helping Dallas win the NFC East and advance to the Divisional round.

For Cooper, the change was both vital and a positive one, as he outlined on the radio this week, per the Dallas Morning News.

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“Yeah. Whatever the circumstances may be, there are certain reasons why one place might not work for a guy and another place will, Cooper said, via the Dallas Morning News. “I think the change of scenery was really necessary. I really, honestly, don’t think if I would’ve stayed with the Raiders last season that I would’ve been able to flourish and reach some heights that I was able to reach as a Cowboy. It was definitely necessary.”

However, Cooper’s success doesn’t necessarily mean the Raiders made a terrible trade. The final verdict there will belong to rookie safety Jonathan Abram, who Oakland took with the Dallas selection.

Abram projects to be a strong safety who can play a bit of man coverage against backs and tight ends, all while proving an asset against the run. Of course, a box safety with value in today’s game must be more than an additional linebacker, and so for the trade to come out even or in Oakland’s favor, Abram needs to be more Kam Chancellor than Reggie Tongue (look him up, kids).

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It’s unfair to expect Abram to be a finished product in his first year out of Mississippi State. The judgement on the trade shouldn’t be levied until a few years down the line, although a quick start for Abram — a la what we’ve seen the last two years from Jamal Adams and Derwin James — would go a long way towards smoothing over the hurt feelings in Oakland.

Inevitably, Cooper is going to get a massive contract in Dallas. The Cowboys didn’t give away a first-round pick for rental, and if he continues to play the way he did the second half of 2019, the money will be well worth it. As for Oakland, Abram has to be special. If he’s not, the trade will fall flat like so many other moves over the past 12 months.