The Raiders need a big bodied receiver who can win jump balls and is willing to go over the middle, and Iowa State’s Allen Lazard is precisely that. At 6-foot-5 and 227 pounds, he is a physical mismatch that knows how to use his frame to his advantage.
Lazard has that rare ability to go over the middle, and he is not afraid to go up and get those balls that other wide receivers may get alligator arms going after.
He has good strong hands that allow him to win on contested catches and does a great job adjusting to the ball in the air. Lazard played both inside and outside during his time with Iowa State so he can move throughout multiple formations. He is also a willing blocker on the edges, and Gruden certainly likes players who go out and get someone when it comes time to block.
Lazard is not a speedster or a quick twitch athlete. Though, he did shock people at the combine with a 4.55 40-yard dash. However, that speed doesn’t show up on tape.
Regardless, the catch radius and technical route running Lazard showed in college is something I’m sure Derek Carr would love to have. I’ve seen Lazard projected anywhere from the fourth to the sixth round on multiple sites, and the Raiders certainly have enough picks in that range to make Lazard a solid late-draft selection.