2021 Las Vegas Raiders breakout candidate: Henry Ruggs III
By Brad Weiss
The Las Vegas Raiders made Henry Ruggs III the No. 12 overall pick in 2020, and in his second season, he has the talent to break out in a big way.
Earlier this week, we discussed how Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Trayvon Mullen could be a breakout candidate for the team this upcoming season. Since being selected in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft, Mullen has been a constant for the Raiders in their secondary, most of the time being the only bright spot they have in the defensive backfield.
As he enters Year 3, the time has come for him to become a Pro Bowl player, and for one 2020 pick, the time has come for him to step up as well. Of course, Henry Ruggs III was the team’s first-ever pick as the Las Vegas Raiders, and with a tough rookie campaign behind him, Ruggs will be counted on in a big way in 2021.
Las Vegas has brought in a bunch of new faces at wide receiver, including John Brown and Willie Snead, but it will be Ruggs who makes or breaks the season at the position group.
Raiders need Ruggs to be a legitimate WR1
Ruggs was drafted to be the top wide receiver on the depth chart, a spot that was taken over quickly by Nelson Agholor this past season. Agholor had a career year in the Silver and Black, and parlayed it into a huge contract with the New England Patriots, leaving the WR1 spot open once again.
For Ruggs, he has to show that he can have the big-play ability more than just once in a while, and become the kind of target that Derek Carr and this offense need. They have an elite tight end and running back, but the time has come for someone to step up and be a 1,000-yard wide receiver, and I believe Ruggs does that in 2021.
There is a reason the Raiders made Ruggs the first overall wide receiver taken in April of 2020, and he will get a big opportunity to show why in Year 2. Overall, this is a Raiders offense that is going to be exciting to watch, and hopefully, Ruggs can bring that playmaking ability to the office weekly this Fall.