The Oakland (soon to be Las Vegas) Raiders have the enviable position of having two mid-first round picks in the talent-laden 2020 NFL Draft. Coming off a year that, by many experts’ standards, was better than expected, the Raiders will have a shorter to-do list than one would have guessed before the year began.
The offensive line performed well, the defensive line was much better than anyone would have guessed, and some players stepped up at TE and in the secondary. So, where could the Raiders go with their top two selections come Thursday, April 23rd? Here are the group of players I’d expect the Raiders to target come draft night.
CeeDee Lamb – WR, Oklahoma – Lamb is a complete WR that is a threat to score every time he touches the ball. He can win at the line of scrimmage and runs excellent routes at all three levels. He has excellent speed, but is deadly with the ball in his hands. I believe he is the best WR in this draft, but may not be the best fit for the Silver and Black. That WR would be…
Jerry Jeudy – WR, Alabama – Jeudy is as precise of a route runner to enter the draft in years. He can run the entire route tree and is another blazer, expected to run in the 4.4 range at the combine. He has excellent ball skills, as well. His precision on every route would pair extremely well with Tyrell Williams.
Isaiah Simmons – LB, Clemson – Simmons is a Swiss Army Knife of a defender. He will line up most frequently at a linebacker spot, but can drop into centerfield, can move up to the line of scrimmage, can play head up over a TE, move into the slot, or even move outside and play corner in certain defensive looks. He’s incredibly athletic for a man his size and can fit any defense in any situation.
Justin Herbert – QB, Oregon – Herbert teases with his physical traits. He’s big, he’s fast, he’s athletic, and he has a cannon of an arm. He just doesn’t seem to make as many big plays as you’d expect from a guy with his skill set. He had a good year in Eugene, but not one to move the needle one way or the other.
If you liked him entering the 2019 draft process, you probably still like him now. And vice versa. If he falls to the 12th pick in the draft, the Raiders may very well want to bring him in as a potential long-term upgrade on incumbent Derek Carr.
Henry Ruggs – WR, Alabama – The fastest player in the draft, Ruggs is expected to challenge John Ross’s record in the 40 yard dash at the combine. He profiles as a DeSean Jackson-type of player at the next level and will create mismatches all over the field, ala Tyreek Hill. A true playmaker, Ruggs is a player that every team in the league would love to deploy.
Trevon Diggs – CB, Alabama – Another Bama player expected to receive heavy interest from CB-needy teams. Diggs is an exceptional athlete that is best suited for press/zone schemes. His ball skills are excellent and he’s a threat to score at any moment. He constantly has his eyes on the Quarterback, which has its positives and negatives. He is susceptible to double moves, but that can be mitigated with safety help. I love the player and think he could reach multiple Pro Bowls.
Laviska Shenault – WR, Colorado – Shenault is a little raw in terms of his route running, but there is no denying his athleticism and ability to create big plays. He is unbelievably difficult to tackle once the ball is in his hands, so he can be used early on in screens, reverses, and as a deep threat. His ceiling as a receiver is extremely high, but he’ll need to be coached on the nuances of the position.
Kristian Fulton – CB, LSU – Fulton doesn’t have the ideal size to be a perimeter corner in today’s NFL. But he checks off every other box. He’s an exceptional athlete with fluid hips and change of direction ability. He’s very sticky in man coverage and makes things extremely difficult for receivers.
He has the speed and the quickness to play tight man coverage and make up for any mistakes. I’m not sure he’s the best fit for the Raiders’ defensive scheme, but you sometimes just take the best player you can and figure it out.
Tua Tagovailoa – QB, Alabama – Wait, what? As of now, it is not expected that Tua will make it to the 12th pick of the draft. However, he is coming off a major hip injury that could leave him vulnerable to falling in the draft.
Before the year started, most pundits had Tua pegged as the nation’s top prospect and player most likely to go first overall in the draft. Now, with Joe Burrow having supplanted Tua as the top QB, and Tua struggling through some injuries, nobody really knows where he’ll end up.
But, if for some crazy reason he falls, the Raiders should take a chance on a guy they could soon make the face of the franchise.
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