Las Vegas Raiders trade Lynn Bowden Jr. in shocking Cut Day move

The Las Vegas Raiders made a shocking move on Cut Day, trading away 2020 third round selection, Lynn Bowden Jr. from Kentucky.

After being selected as the 80th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Raiders have dealt Lynn Bowden and a 6th round pick to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for a 4th round pick in the 2021 NFL draft. That 4th round pick was the same pick Las Vegas traded to Miami in return for LB Raekwon McMillan just a few days prior; essentially makes this a Lynn Bowden for McMillan scenario.

Raiders fans had high hopes for the electric college player who played 2 positions for Kentucky including QB his senior year when the Wildcats saw 2 starters go down due to injury. He was slated to become an instant weapon as a return man and “joker” player on offense. It was even reported that Jon Gruden had designed an entire package of plays for Bowden to play Wildcat QB similar to how the Saints use Taysom Hill.

Alas, it was not meant to be. In reality, Bowden was facing an uphill battle few players have ever successfully transitioned to (from WR/QB to playing running back). It had been reported that Bowden was struggling in pass protection drills (a necessary trait to getting on the field for a RB) and also had looked slower in practice than he did in college.

Even still, this trade is gut punch for fans who were excited to see how Bowden would be deployed in Las Vegas this season. The bare minimum hope for his rookie year was adding a jolt to the return game and forcing opposing teams to gameplan for the potential of him and Josh Jacobs being on the field at the same time, even if it was only for a couple plays a game.

Now its only the Raiders who have wasted time practicing packages that will never come into existence, including losing a 6th round pick in next year’s draft.