Las Vegas Raiders 2020 NFL Draft prospect profile: CJ Henderson
Fit in Vegas
As a press-man corner, Henderson would be a great addition to the Raiders, and him opposite of Mullen would give Las Vegas two big playmakers on the outside. Henderson brings versatility too, being a fluid enough athlete to travel with top receivers that play in the slot, which is rare for someone his size.
He’s also quick twitched and instinctive enough to play zone but will take chances, which could lead to him getting manipulated by smart quarterbacks. But as we’ve seen with players like Marcus Peters, the ability to create takeaways can mitigate the occasional mistake.
So, in terms of coverage, there is really no way to deny Henderson’s ability, which means the Raiders will ultimately have to determine why his effort wained in his junior year. His ankle problems have to be taken into consideration, but there is no denying he was far more lackadaisical. The first game of the season against Miami really sticks out in this area. Play strength, despite his high bench reps at the combine, also seems to be a concern when it comes to shedding blocks.
The Raiders were clearly bothered by Gareon Conley’s tackling issues, so will they look over it when it comes to Henderson?
His man coverage ability is something that seems like it will translate from day one, and the ceiling of his overall talent far outweighs Conley’s, so it may be a risk worth taking.
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Plus, if the Raiders do want to take Henderson, they will likely have to take him at pick #12 because it’s hard to imagine him getting to #19 at this point. So the conundrum of whether to take him or address another position of need like a wide receiver with their first pick adds another wrinkle to this.
Luckily, we don’t have to wait much longer to see what the Raiders decide to do.