The Las Vegas Raiders got a steal in the third round in South Carolina wideout Bryan Edwards, and he was recently named a sleeper for Rookie of the Year honors.
The Las Vegas Raiders knew they needed to upgrade the wide receiver position this offseason, especially after an injury-plagued 2019 campaign. They did so by bringing in Nelson Agholor via free agency, and drafting two players in the 2020 NFL Draft will have a major impact in Year No. 1.
Henry Ruggs was the team’s first selection as the Las Vegas Raiders, as the team selected the Alabama speedster with the No. 12 overall pick. From there, Bryan Edwards was selected with the No. 81 overall selection, and he has certainly turned heads this summer.
As we inch closer to Week 1, outlets will start to give their awards predictions for the upcoming season, and Edwards’ strong start has not been lost on the national media.
Edwards named a Tier 2 Offensive Rookie of the Year longshot
Bill Barnwell from ESPN recently released a piece detailing guys he felt could be long shots for each of the NFL’s significant awards. The Raiders were represented only once, with rookie Bryan Edwards being considered a Tier 2 longshot for Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.
Edwards was second to only Los Angeles Rams running back Cam Akers, who was a star for the Florida State Seminoles during his time in college. Edwards left South Carolina as the all-time leading receiver in team history, but injuries led to him falling to the third round, where the Raiders were waiting with back-to-back picks at No. 80 and No. 81.
After selecting Lynn Bowden Jr. at No. 80, Edwards was the pick at No. 81, and the franchise could not be happier about that.
Quarterback Derek Carr has already likened him to former Fresno State teammate Davante Adams, and that is high praise coming from the seventh-year starter. This is a make-or-break year for Carr, who has a ton of weapons around him, and in Year 1, Edwards could be the most important piece that the team brought in for the passing game this offseason.