Before the 2015 season, Seth Roberts had exactly zero catches in his short NFL career.
The former small-school standout from West Alabama, who went undrafted, was on Oakland’s practice squad in 2014 and went into training camp buried on a depth chart that included veteran free-agent signee Michael Crabtree, top draft pick Amari Cooper, Rod Streater, Andre Holmes, Brice Butler, Kenbrell Thompkins, Kris Durham and Josh Harper.
Cooper and Crabtree were penciled in as starters, with Streater the leading candidate to be the team’s No. 3 wide receiver.
But despite the long odds, Roberts shined in preseason games, showing the Raiders he has a nice combination of size (6-foot-2, 196 pounds) and speed. Through the first three exhibition games he pretty much locked up a spot on the roster by leading the team in catches with eight for a team-best 133 yards.
"I have my mind set on making this team," Roberts told the San Francisco Chronicle as training camp wound down. "If I don’t make it I would be hurt, but right now I am not even thinking about the cut-down days."
Roberts made the roster, of course, and then made the most of his opportunity. As the season progressed, he surpassed Streater and Holmes and allowed the Raiders the depth to ship off Butler.
Roberts finished the season with 32 catches for 480 yards, a 15-yards per catch average and five touchdowns. Two of those catches were game-winners, against the Ravens and Titans. His big-play ability earned him more opportunities and the confidence of quarterback Derek Carr and his coaches.
Local
After Roberts’ winning touchdown play vs. Baltimore, Carr said the young wide receiver had come a long way since his rookie season.
"Just to watch him work, watch him get better at his craft, to make the team after being on (the) practice squad and to make the game-winning catch, he deserves all the credit," said Carr.
Now the Raiders go into the offseason toward the 2016 schedule with a terrific corps of wideouts led by Cooper, Crabtree and Roberts. This summer, Roberts won’t be buried on the depth chart and a long shot to make the roster.
Said head coach Jack Del Rio of Roberts’ growth: "Seth has just taken that opportunity and run with it."
