The Las Vegas Raiders had three third-round picks in the 2020 NFL Draft, and used two of them to select Lynn Bowden Jr., Bryan Edwards. It could be said that it was too excesive, but it isn’t when we take into account how depleted the position was last year.
The Raiders had a less than stellar wide receiver group last season. Other than rookie Hunter Renfrow and veteran Tyrell Williams, there wasn’t consistent production throughout the unit. Heck, the player with the most receiving yards at the end of the season was not even a wide-out but tight end Darren Waller. After Renfrow, who had 49 catches, 605 yards and four touchdowns, the next player with the most yards was another non-wide receiver, running back Jalen Richard with 323 yards.
No More Excuses For The Raiders
For a while, a lack of weapons has been the loudest excuse for quarterback Derek Carr and the offense not to produce. In 2019, the Raiders traded for Zay Jones but didn’t get too much return for their investment, a fifth round pick in this year’s draft. Fan favorite Keelan Doss didn’t do much either after the team got into a bidding war with the Jaguars to keep Doss. None of these players instilled fear in opposing defenses so general manager Mike Mayock got in to action and drafted Bowden Jr. and back-to-back picks, the 80th and 81st selections after selecting Henry Ruggs III with the 12th overall pick.
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It could be argued that the Raiders didn’t need to draft two wide receivers and that they could’ve allocated the picks to other positions of need, but the front office was not happy with their level of talent and depth at wide receiver before the draft and the selection of Bowden Jr. and Edwards is a loud statement. On the other hand, the team spent resources in free agency to give the defense an makeover. At that time, Las Vegas didn’t limit themselves nor spare costs. It is now for the offense to get the same kind of treatment.
Raw But Potentially Dangerous
Bowden Jr. and Edwards are currently unproven, but they have the potential to rise up on the Raiders depth chart right away and displace many of the wide receivers currently on the roster. Even then, they won’t have the expectations that come with being drafted in the first round, fair or not, Ruggs III will be under way more scrutiny than the pair of third round picks.
The Raiders knew they had deficiencies throughout the roster, they lied a strategy and have followed. Drafting Bowden Jr. and Edwards in the third round were just another part of the plan.
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Top Photo: AP/Richard Shiro
Exactly. You said it. No more excuses.
Thanks, Gabe.
No more excuses—for you, Carlos, and other Carr haters to continue your ridiculous campaign against one of the best QBs in the league. Gruden and Mayock have answered–one more time–the question about how they view Carr. He is their franchise QB. Period. Now take off your blinders and drop the unfounded bias.
Nah. No bias. Just holding Carr accountable.
@ Mario Tovar—Holding him accountable for what? For being on a team with one of the worst defenses in the league for the last 10 years? For having his best year ever statistically last year? For having no explosive, experienced or competent or uninjured playmakers around him last year? For bringing in an angry out of control and immature Antonio Brown who blew up all of the teams offensive plans right before the start of the season? If anyone is to be held accountable, it is Jon Gruden, Mike Mayock and Mark Davis. They are the masterminds and architects of the team and its fate. But, I see their plan and it is solid. And I also see that Gruden is now working with the best QB he has ever had, and he and Greg Olson are doing a great job in bringing Derek Carr along and creating the best situation for Carr to succeed.
Is this you Cody? ðŸ˜ðŸ¤¦ðŸ˜‚ valid points though, thanks for weighing in.
@Mario–not Cody–Max. I guess the system here does not remember me from the previous comment. Not important, anyway. I would agree that Derek Carr does need to perform now at a high level. But, my opinion is that is what he always does. He has the tools, the smarts, the judgement to take a talented team deep into the playoffs. And my feeling (opinion) is that Mr. Gruden and Mr. Mayock agree with that. Yes, if D. Carr doesn’t perform, the team is in for a disappointing season. And, ALL of the players on the team have to perform at a high level for D. Carr and the team to succeed. Too often, when teams succeed, the QBs are given too much credit; conversely, when teams underperform, QBs take too much blame. Every QB has strengths and weaknesses–it’s up to coaches to correct those where they can and design schemes to maximize the talent. The L. V. Raiders are assembling one of the best coaching staffs in the league, which few people have commented on. They will get the most out of this team, just as they did last year.