By all accounts, the Raiders’ most significant need this offseason is finding a true No. 1 receiver. The team has several complementary pieces at receivers, such as Tyrell Williams and Hunter Renfrow. They even have dynamic tight end pairing with Darren Waller and Foster Moreau.
But what the Raiders lack on offense is a game-breaking No. 1 receiver who can dictate coverage and win against even the best cornerbacks in the NFL. Luckily for the Raiders, the 2020 draft appears to have two elite receiver prospects in the first round; Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb and Alabama’s Jerry Jeudy.
During most of the 2019 College Football season, Jeudy was regarded as the better prospect as he was named the 2018 Fred Blienkoff Award winner as the nation’s top receiver. Over the last two seasons at Alabama, Jeudy has racked up nearly 2,500 receiving yards and 24 touchdowns. Jeudy doesn’t have great size, but he is an excellent route runner who wins with quickness and speed.
Challenging him for the top receiver spot is Lamb, who doesn’t have the same quickness or long speed as Jeudy. Instead, he has a massive catch radius and is near impossible to stop after the catch. Lamb was highly productive in his own right, scoring 26 touchdowns and amassing 2,500 total yards from scrimmage over the past two seasons.
In the latest mock draft at NFL.com by Bucky Brooks, he has the Raiders selecting Lamb over Jeudy at the No. 12 spot. Brooks cites Jon Gruden’s love for physical receivers as the reason why he chose Lamb over Jeudy.
If both players are available at that pick, it will be fascinating to see which one the Raiders value more; the polished route runner with elite speed or the physical receiver with a big catch radius. Either way, the Raiders should have no problem filling their No. 1 receiver need in the draft.
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