Las Vegas Raiders: 4 bold predictions for the 2020 NFL Draft class
By Brad Weiss
Henry Ruggs will break Amari Cooper’s rookie records
Back in 2015, the Raiders selected Alabama wideout Amari Cooper with the No. 4 overall pick in the NFL Draft, giving young Derek Carr another weapon on the outside. As a rookie, Cooper immediately made a big impact, hauling in 72 passes for 1,070 yards in what would turn out to be a Pro Bowl season as a rookie.
Not only was Cooper a Pro Bowler that year, but the 72 catches and 1,070 yards were rookie records for the franchise, two records that could fall in 2020. With the No. 12 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Raiders selected another Alabama wideout in the first round, and Henry Ruggs III should have his eyes on Cooper’s records.
Ruggs, who is known mostly for his speed, is an incredible playmaker, and had an insane catch-to-touchdown ratio during his time with the Crimson Tide. With blinding speed, and the ability to run the entire route tree, Ruggs is going to have an instant impact in Gruden’s offense, and the big numbers should follow.
Carr set a career-high in passing yards last season despite having issues at the wide receiver positions, as inconsistent play and injuries hurt the group as a whole. In Ruggs, he is getting that legitimate WR1 that he has not had in a long time, and it is not a stretch to think both of these records will go down.