Las Vegas Raiders rookie Bryan Edwards named the team’s X-Factor in 2020
By Brad Weiss
The Las Vegas Raiders may have struck gold in the third round by selecting Bryan Edwards, who was recently labeled the team’s X-Factor in 2020.
Heading into the 2020 NFL Draft, the question for the Las Vegas Raiders was which elite wide receiver prospect would they select with the No. 12 overall pick. Luckily for them, as the picks started coming off the board, all three of the top names were still available, a list that included Henry Ruggs III, CeeDee Lamb, and Jerry Jeudy.
The Raiders decided to select Ruggs with the pick, drafting the fastest player in the draft class, and bringing in a legitimate WR1 for the top of their depth chart. Later on, the team selected another wide receiver, Bryan Edwards from South Carolina in the third round, and he has been getting rave reviews so far in camp.
Edwards labeled the team’s X-Factor
Brent Sobleski recently laid out the X-Factor for each franchise over at Bleacher Report, and for the Raiders, it was not the No. 12 overall pick they brought in to lead the wideout group. In fact, it was a guy they selected in the third round, as Bryan Edwards was named the team’s X-Factor for the 2020 season.
Sobleski spoke to Edwards’ injury in his final season at South Carolina, and how it affected his draft status, while stating that the duo of him and Ruggs could be special.
"The Raiders lacked weapons among their wide receivers last year. Edwards and first-round pick Henry Ruggs III could completely revamp the passing game."
So far during camp, Edwards has not only turned heads in terms of the coaching staff, but also his teammates, including quarterback Derek Carr. The seventh-year starter likened Edwards to former Fresno State teammate Davante Adams, which is high praise considering how dominant Adams has been at the NFL level.
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The truth is, the Raiders have turned what was once a position of need into a position of strength, and both Ruggs and Edwards are going to play big roles in this offense as rookies. Carr now has the weapons he needs to get this team back to the playoffs for the first time since 2016, and only their second trip since the 2002 NFL season.