Raiders can pick from bumper crop of wide receivers

Recommended Video:

There are no certainties in the NFL draft, unless they’re the sure-handed, impact receivers available in the first round. Last year five were picked in the first round, and three — Odell Beckham Jr., Mike Evans and Kelvin Benjamin — became the first rookie 1,000-yard trio in NFL history.

Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie won’t even acknowledge that the receiver position is a need, but he surely knows that Oakland hasn’t had a 1,000-yard receiver since Randy Moss in 2005. That’s the longest drought in the NFL, along with Jacksonville.

McKenzie can get one Thursday night, as there is another loaded draft class thanks to all the spread offenses in high schools and colleges producing polished, experienced ball-catchers.

The Raiders pick fourth, and both Alabama’s Amari Cooper and West Virginia’s Kevin White should be available. They lead a talented class that includes Louisville’s DeVante Parker, Oklahoma’s Dorial Green-Beckham, Arizona State’s Jaelen Strong, Central Florida’s Breshad Perriman and Miami’s Phillip Dorsett — all of whom could go in the first round.

The thing is, the Raiders also have a pressing need for a pass rusher, and McKenzie might try and take advantage of the depth at receiver and take one in the second round. Besides Dorsett, USC’s Nelson Agholor, Ohio State deep threat Devin Smith and Auburn’s Sammie Coates could be available when Oakland picks again at No. 35.

Many draft experts think Cooper isn’t one to pass on, though.

ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said Cooper has a “Jerry Rice work ethic” as well as “a precise route-running ability.”

West Virginia's Kevin White (11) jukes past TCU defender Chris Hackett (1) during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game in Morgantown, W.Va., Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014. (AP Phpto/Tyler Evert) West Virginia's Kevin White (11) jukes past TCU defender Chris Hackett (1) during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game in Morgantown, W.Va., Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014. (AP Phpto/Tyler Evert) Photo: Tyler Evert, Associated Press Photo: Tyler Evert, Associated Press Image 1 of / 5 Caption Close Raiders can pick from bumper crop of wide receivers 1 / 5 Back to Gallery

Former Raiders coach Jon Gruden, who also works for ESPN, compared Cooper to Raiders Hall of Fame inductee Tim Brown. (Brown had eight straight 1,000-yard seasons through 2001.)

“Tim was 'The Natural,’ and so is Cooper,” Gruden said. “He will line up to the left, he will line up to the right, he will go in motion, and he will be in the slot. … He has savvy, and he is elusive after the catch.”

The 6-foot-1, 211-pound Cooper set a Southeastern Conference record with 124 catches, 1,727 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2014. White had 109 catches for 1,447 yards and 10 touchdowns for the Mountaineers, and some rank him ahead of Cooper because he is 6-3, 215 and a little more physical.

If the Raiders don’t draft Cooper or White at No. 4, going for defense or trading down, there should be plenty of quick-trigger options available later for a team that desperately needs a deep threat. (The recent signing of former 49er Michael Crabtree doesn’t address that problem.)

The 5-foot-10 Dorsett ran a 4.33 40-yard dash at the combine.

“Dorsett is the most explosive receiver in this draft class,” NFL Films senior producer Greg Cosell said. “The best comparison may be DeSean Jackson in regards to lifting the top off the coverage, but Dorsett is a more complete receiver than Jackson.

“No receiver in this draft class can stick his foot in the ground and explode vertically like Dorsett.”

The 6-1, 198-pound Smith is a one-trick pony, but it’s a pretty good trick — he averaged 28.2 yards per catch and had 12 touchdowns for the Buckeyes. But he might not be strong enough to make an immediate impact in the NFL.

“Smith’s game right now is almost totally reliant on speed, with almost no nuance,” Cosell said. “How will he handle press coverage? Can he get off the jam and get into his routes? I expect him to struggle against press coverage because he’s long and lanky without much body strength.”

Agholor is also a little slight at 6 foot, 198 pounds, but he is a more gifted route-runner than Smith.

“Phillip Dorsett has T.Y. Hilton-like qualities,” Gruden said. “Devin Smith ... there’s just so many that are in this draft. ... You can get a really good receiver this year in the second or third round, no question.”

Vic Tafur is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: vtafur@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @VicTafur