How 2020’s draft class could transform the Raiders’ attack

By Case Keefer (contact)

Thursday, April 30, 2020 | 2 a.m.

For several days, the Las Vegas Raiders IT department helped set up and explain all the technology old-school general manager Mike Mayock would utilize for this year’s NFL’s Draft.

Although Mayock said he had no complaints and that the virtual three-day draft went off without a hitch through its conclusion April 25, his team might have skipped over one elementary lesson: modern messaging. Because Mayock was left on his own to interpret texts from quarterback Derek Carr following some of the team’s picks.

“I was looking at all these emojis like, ‘I guess he’s happy; that looks good,’ ” Mayock said.

Chances are that Carr hit Mayock with a bunch of flames and thumbs-ups, because his team’s first draft as the Las Vegas Raiders was a quarterback’s dream. Las Vegas focused on flash, selecting three players who were stars with the ball in their hands in the first three rounds: Alabama’s Henry Ruggs III, Kentucky’s Lynn Bowden Jr. and South Carolina’s Bryan Edwards. (Only one other team—the Green Bay Packers—used that much early draft capital on skill-position players.)

The Raiders also became the first team in the 2020 draft to take four offensive players, when they traded up to select Clemson guard John Simpson with the third pick in the fourth round.

The hope is not so much for an offensive overhaul as for a significant upgrade when the team moves into Allegiant Stadium at the start of next season, which as of press time was still scheduled to begin in September.

“When [coach Jon Gruden] and I sat down in the offseason, it was, ‘How do we get more dynamic?’ ” Mayock said. “When you look at Ruggs, when you look at Bowden, and you look at Edwards, we’re more dynamic.”

The concern could be that acquiring that trio came at the detriment of defense, which was a much bigger issue for the Raiders last season. They ranked above average in almost all offensive categories, but one of the league’s worst defenses resigned them to missing the playoffs for the 16th time in 17 seasons.

Las Vegas nabbed a pair of cornerbacks—Ohio State’s Damon Arnette in the first round and Louisiana Tech’s Amik Robertson in the fourth round—to help stop the bleeding but were otherwise mostly quiet on that side of the ball. Linebacker/safety Tanner Muse was the team’s last of three third-round picks, but even by Mayock’s description, he’s more of a long-term defensive project, with his initial role projected as special teams mainstay.

Still, even “defense wins championships” throwbacks are coming around to the fact that the NFL has become an offensive league, so it’s hard to accuse the Raiders of a strategic blunder. To win at the highest level, a team needs not just big-time playmakers but ones who fit into its system. Ruggs, Bowden and Edwards should all slide nicely into the offense Gruden has designed around Carr.

“The cool thing is they all really complement each other,” Mayock said.

Ruggs, the 12th overall selection in the draft and first receiver off the board, is a clear “Z receiver,” the top target on the strong side who can run all the routes. He’s often regarded as a deep threat, and while he possesses that ability because of his speed, some of his best moments with the Crimson Tide came on quick passes that he turned into big plays.

Look for that to continue with the Raiders, considering they’re all about the short passing game. Carr averaged 6.3 intended air yards per passing attempt last season, the fewest in the league among quarterbacks with at least six starts. Mayock specifically spoke enthusiastically about running bubble screens for Ruggs.

Speaking of screen passes, Edwards became the most prolific receiver in Gamecocks history off them. He holds the South Carolina career records with 234 receptions, 3,045 receiving yards and 48 straight games with a reception.

With the Raiders, he’ll be an “X receiver,” lining up on the weak side and concentrating more on short and intermediate routes. His knack for outmuscling defenders and pulling down passes in traffic could help extend drives.

“I just feel like I’m a playmaker,” Edwards said in describing his game. “I feel like I can make plays with the ball in my hand. I can win 50/50 balls.”

Bowden is the most intriguing of all, as he played quarterback, running back and wide receiver for the Wildcats. He’ll begin his tenure with the Raiders as a running back but with plans to ultimately turn into a position Gruden calls the “joker.” That means he could do everything from line up as a hybrid tight end, motion into the slot or take handoffs, constantly giving opposing defenses something to monitor. And, perhaps further down the line, Bowden could do even more.

He has drawn several comparisons to Taysom Hill, whom the Saints utilize as a change-of-pace quarterback with a specialized package. Bowden is open to playing any position professionally and said Gruden gave him the sense that his opportunities are endless.

“I feel like I’m going to wake up the world,” Bowden said. “It’s only a matter of time.”

If nothing else, the Raiders should enliven in their first season in Las Vegas. The 2020 draft further solidified that this won’t be a team trying to hunker down and win physically grueling 21-17 contests.

With the number of weapons it has stockpiled, Las Vegas is solidly embracing football’s modern age, eyeing coming out on top in shootouts.

“We’ve done all the work,” Mayock said. “We have one goal, and that’s winning the Super Bowl. At the end of the day, nothing else matters.”

This story appeared in Las Vegas Weekly.