Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper's homecoming was an extraordinarily short-lived one, which leaves the team in dire straits in terms of its wide receiver depth.
On Sept. 4, Cooper announced his retirement from the NFL after 10 seasons. The news comes just 10 days after the former Buffalo Bills wideout returned to the Raiders - the team that originally drafted him in 2015 - on a one-year contract.
Cooper's retirement leaves Las Vegas with just four wide receivers still on its active roster with three days to go before the Raiders' season-opener against the New England Patriots. Two of those wide receivers are rookies, and one recently requested a trade.
Here's how the Raiders' wide receivers depth chart currently looks:
AMARI COOPER RETIRES: Second stint with Raiders lasts one week after signing with Las Vegas
According to the team's official website, the Raiders' depth at wide receiver includes just four players after Cooper's retirement.
Meyers, the team's leading wide receiver in each of the last two seasons, is once again Las Vegas' clear top option at the position. However, he's entering the final season of his three-year contract in 2025 and recently requested a trade after failing to secure an extension before the start of the regular season.
Tucker is another starting receiver for the offense and is entering his third NFL season after Las Vegas drafted him in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Last year marked Tucker's better of his two seasons so far with 47 catches for 539 yards and three touchdowns all marking career highs.
Thornton and Bech are the two rookies on the depth chart. Bech was a second-round selection in this year's draft, while Thornton came off the board in the fourth round. Thornton is currently listed among starters on the Raiders' depth chart - despite his lower draft position - after a strong training camp.
None of the receivers on the Raiders' depth chart project to have as big an impact as second-year tight end Brock Bowers, who had an excellent breakout rookie season in 2024. He was the team's leading pass-catcher in targets (153), receptions (112) and receiving yards (1,194) last year.
JAKOBI MEYERS: Raiders lead WR requests trade
There are still a few wide receivers available in free agency this late in the year, but the pickings are slim.
The timing of Cooper's retirement is less than ideal for Las Vegas. One top trade target, former Panthers wideout Adam Thielen, has already been traded to the Vikings. Another potential option was the 49ers' Jauan Jennings, who requested a trade in July, but he signed a contract restructure earlier on Thursday.
There aren't many other obvious trade candidates at wide receiver around the NFL.