Raiders: Will Derek Carr really have the best season of his career?
By Alex Perl
Raiders: Will Derek Carr really have the best season of his career?
2020 NFL Draft
The franchise also went very heavy on wide receivers in the 2020 NFL Draft, improving the position group with their first of two first round picks. Sitting at No. 12 overall, the Raiders added Alabama speedster Henry Ruggs III, who is so much more than just a burner.
The pick was very much reminiscent of a pick the late Al Davis would have made, as he is one of the fastest receivers to come out of college in recent memory as well. With scouts being much higher on other receivers such as Ceedee Lamb, or even Ruggs own college teammate in Jerry Jeudy, Ruggs was the guy who was at the top of Gruden’s list.
Bryan Edwards is also a new weapon for Carr, as the rookie drafted out of South Carolina is the all-time leader in receptions and and receiving yards at the school. In fact, he could have added more to his numbers had he not experienced a season-ending injury.
He has been touted as being in the mold of Cardinals legend Larry Fitzgerald, which is high praise, but hopefully he gets near this projection somewhat.
The pick right before Edwards was Lynn Bowden Jr., a do-it-all player of sorts, although the Raiders have said that Bowden’s position is running back. However, I would expect him to line up all over the field, as at the University of Kentucky, he lined up at wide receiver as well as quarterback.
With the Raiders pretty stacked at running back, especially considering Josh Jacobs will not be relinquishing many carries, expect Bowden to line up at receiver on many occasions. His versatility will be refreshing compared to such a dull offense from the year before.