It’s no secret that the Las Vegas Raiders will be heavily targeting receivers in the upcoming NFL Draft. Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden have down an excellent job of finding defensive talent that will allow them to draft the best available players at nearly every pick.
However, the receiver position is still likely going to be a focal point for this team early and often during the first two days of the draft. We’ve talked ad nasuem about the potential players the Raiders could select at receiver. However, we haven’t discussed the receivers the Raiders should avoid.
Today, we are looking at a first-round receiver who just doesn’t make much sense for the Raiders. That player is none other than LSU’s Justin Jefferson.
Outside of Denzel Mims from Baylor, Jefferson might be one of the biggest pre-draft winners at the receiver position. Jefferson tested like an elite athlete, running a 4.43 40-yard dash at 202 pounds. By most accounts, Jefferson is a lock first-round pick and is even sneaking up inside the top-25 in mock drafts:
However, there are some concerns about Jefferson’s game that should concern fans. According to Pro Football Focus, Jefferson played just five snaps as an outside receiver in 2019. While he put up huge numbers for the Tigers (1,540 receiving yards), most of his production came in the slot against zone coverage.
While Hunter Renfrow’s presence in the slot won’t prevent them from drafting a better receiver, the Raiders need someone with proven experience on the outside. Jefferson might be able to win on the outside in time, but that uncertainty is far too big of a risk for the Raiders in the first round.
If the Raiders don’t end up with a CeeDee Lamb or Jerry Jeudy at pick No. 12, don’t expect Jefferson to be on their short-list of targets at No. 19. Instead, look for players such as Denzel Mims or Jalen Reagor to be considered.
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