Finally, the 2020 NFL Draft is upon us, and the Las Vegas Raiders selected Henry Ruggs III with the 12th pick in the draft.
In what has definitely been an offseason to remember, it’s time to get back to football. Commissioner Roger Goodell wasn’t booed for the first time in as long as I can remember, and shouted out the Raiders for making their first ever selection in Sin City: “With the 12th pick in the 2020 draft, The Las Vegas Raiders select Henry Ruggs III, wide receiver from Alabama.”
Instant jubilation, the Raiders had their choice of electrifying wide receivers in college football, and selected the prospect with the most home run speed. The offensive side of the ball is now something that can cause some real problems for a defense. Defenders have keyed on the quick hitting timing routes that head coach Jon Gruden’s west coast offense is based on. With Ruggs, opposing defenses will have to respect the deep route.
Related: The Only Nation Podcast Ep.11: It’s Draft Time
Raiders: Speed kills
You can’t teach speed and you can’t coach it into a player, but when you have it, you are special. Ruggs III is that receiver. The late great Al Davis would covet Ruggs. He is explosive and offers the Raiders a chess piece that can turn fly sweeps and jet motions into six points nearly every time he touches the ball. The Alabama product ran a 4.27 40-yard dash at this year’s NFL Scouting Combine and was its fastest man in 2020.
Verticality has been missing from the Raiders passing attack, but quarterback Derek Carr now has everything at his disposal: A big balanced top 5 tight end, a flanker, a split end, a chain moving slot, and at last, a home run hitter. In Gruden’s offense there is always at least one built in deep shot. A safety is going to have to be over the top of Ruggs on every play or risk sending a corner to the intensive care burn unit.
Instant Reaction
It seems as though the spirit of Mr. Davis came back to us for the Raiders first selection. Ruggs is the missing piece the Raiders offense craved. His freakish physical nature mirrors the abilities of Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill. Personally, I love the pick. The Raiders pass attack is now set and if Ruggs doesn’t get fed, then we will have our answer to what’s holding the team back.
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