Las Vegas Raiders: Bryan Edwards to be a legitimate redzone threat

The Las Vegas Raiders will have to replace Nelson Agholor this season, and one second-year wide receiver could be a major threat in the redzone.

The Las Vegas Raiders will enter the 2021 NFL Draft with issues on both sides of the ball, and that includes upfront along the offensive line. One area where they will likely avoid until Day 3, if they even address it at all, is wide receiver, where they have some solid talent up and down the depth chart.

Last season, the Raiders signed Nelson Agholor to a one-year, prove-it deal, and he more than played up to his contract. Agholor was the No. 1 option at the wide receiver spot for Derek Carr, proving to be the second-best option in the passing game behind elite tight end Darren Waller.

In 2021, Agholor will be hauling in passes from Cam Newton with the New England Patriots, so it will be up to someone to step up and fill in the void. During the 2020 NFL Draft, the Raiders added both Henry Ruggs III and Bryan Edwards, and while the hope is that Ruggs can be the deep threat for the team this season, Edwards has to be considered a top option in the red zone.

Raiders relying on two second-year wideouts in 2021

Ruggs and Edwards are going to play a big part in this Raiders offense in 2021, as Ruggs was the first wide receiver taken in the 2020 NFL Draft, and needs to be much better in Year 2. Edwards battled through injuries during his rookie season, and we only saw glimpses of his talent, but he certainly has the size, athletic ability, and hands to be an elite option this season.

Standing 6-foot-3, Edwards has that rare ability to high-point the ball, and having him healthy next season is going to bring a new dimension to this Raiders offense. If he can step up in Year 2, team won’t be able to solely focus on Waller in the red zone, giving Carr multiple options in that scenario.

Edwards was an absolute star during his time in South Carolina, and left school as the all-time leading receiver. Some felt he was a steal in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft, and with a big second season, he can prove himself to be just that.