On the first two days of the draft, the Raiders picked five players — two in the first round and three in the third. Three of those five players the Raiders have specific designs on them contributing on special teams. This includes top pick Henry Ruggs III who they are looking at not just as a speedy wide receiver but as a kick return specialist.
While Ruggs will be asked to return kicks, third-round pick Lynn Bowden Jr will return punts, according to general manager Mike Mayock:
“Henry Ruggs III is a difference-maker, yesterday on the offensive side. Ruggs is a difference-maker. Lynn Bowden Jr, we talked about him and what he can bring to the table. Bowden can return punts, Ruggs III can return kickoffs. We’re trying to do more than just draft guys that play one thing. Versatility is important.”
Ruggs returned 12 kicks last season at Alabama — an average of one per game. He averaged 23.8 yards per return with no scores. As a freshman in 2017, he returned 13 kicks and 8 punts.
Bowden returned a lot more kicks at Kentucky than he did punts. But he was far more lethal as a punt returner. In three seasons, he has returned just 9 punts, but averaged 22.1 yards per punt return with two returns for scores.
While he has returned 71 kicks over three seasons, he didn’t take any of them to the house and averaged just a shade more per kick return (22.9) than he did punt returns. In case you are not aware, punt returns typically average considerably fewer yards per return than kicks, so that’s a significant number.
With the team’s final pick of day two, at 100 overall, they selected Clemson’s Tanner Muse. While Muse played more safety than linebacker over the years for the Tigers, the Raiders like him as a linebacker. But first things first; the 227-pounder who ran a 4.39 40 at the combine will use his talents on special teams, namely in coverage.
“The rub for him day one is to be a core special teams player,” Mayock said of Muse. “While he’s getting 20, 25 snaps a game at special teams he’s got to learn how to [play] MIKE and WILL linebacker. He’s predominately a safety but he’s going to be a linebacker for us. We think he’s one of the smartest and most intuitive players in the draft and we expect him to learn both positions in addition to playing special teams.”
Mayock said even when the team traded down from 91 to 100, they had their sights on Muse at that spot. It’s strange to think that perhaps his special teams abilities raised his value with the team. Usually special teams abilities don’t enter the conversation until day three, but clearly, they were in the thought process of Mayock and Jon Gruden from the start of the draft.
Come day three, with their final pick at 139 in the fourth round, they got cornerback Amik Robertson. He is being looked at as a nickel corner for the team. Right now the Raiders nickel cornerback is Lamarcus Joyner. Robertson will likely have to bide his time behind Joyner before he sees significant time on defense. Until then, he will be asked to earn his keep on special teams.
“Inside or outside (he’s) another competitor, another guy Rich Bisaccia is going to love him on special teams,” Mayock said of Robertson.
What exactly his role will be on special teams is unclear. He is a fierce tackler, so it would seem coverage teams would be a good fit. An interesting stat for Robertson, tho, is that he returned exactly one kick in his college career. And it went for a touchdown.
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