Entering the 2020 offseason, the wide receiver position was the team’s greatest weakness by a significant margin. While fifth-round pick Hunter Renfrow proved to be a solid addition last season, the group needed help.
The Raiders did address the position by not only spending the No. 12 pick on former Alabama receiver Henry Ruggs III, but also picking another SEC stud in Bryan Edwards at pick No. 81. Both players are expected to play a significant amount as rookies.
But was that enough to give the Raiders a competent receiving corps in 2020? In a recent article by Ben Linsey of Pro Football Focus, he ranked all 32 teams by their receiving corps entering the season. The Raiders finished outside the top half of the league, as they were ranked at No. 19. Here is a snippet of Linsey’s thoughts on the Raiders entering the 2020 season:
“(The Raiders) added unteachable speed and athleticism to that group with their first pick in the 2020 NFL Draft by selecting Henry Ruggs III out of Alabama. Ruggs’ production with the Crimson Tide won’t blow you away, but he has the tools to be a complete wide receiver at the next level, and not just a deep threat. It remains to be seen if he can be that player right out of the gate, though.”
The Raiders will have a very young receiving corps this season with three of their top four receivers under the age of 25. The team is hoping that Darren Waller and Foster Moreau can carry their passing game until the young receivers get up to speed.
While this group may have their struggles early on in 2020, look for Ruggs and Edwards to emerge as starters by the end of the season. This is a unit with a ton of potential that could be significantly better by this time next year
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