The Las Vegas Raiders have historically not cared about what outsiders think of their operations. In spite of that, the national media has given praise where it was due even if it’s with some apprehension.
This past weekend Raiders general manager Mike Mayock continued rebuilding the current team, adding several important pieces. The approach he took into the 2020 NFL Draft was like last year’s, arguably top-notch, especially in the first round. Henry Ruggs III, the 12th overall pick, will help open up head coach Jon Gruden’s offense which should, in turn, help quarterback Derek Carr lead this squad back to the playoffs.
Raiders Blog: The Way-Too-Early Verdict
Several national personalities weighed in on the Raiders’ picks, and for the most part, they were generally positive. With the Ruggs pick, Mike Tanier of Bleacher Report in particular, had the following to say regarding the selection: “Ruggs will lift the lid on their offense. But who will take advantage of all the space he creates underneath? And can any Raiders quarterback even reach Ruggs when he’s 40 yards downfield? This is a risky pick. And the Raiders have a habit of getting burned by risks like this.” While there might be a concern about Carr being able to exploit Ruggs’s speed, he will no doubt be the fastest receiver out of the gate.
Related: Raider Nation’s Reaction To Day 3 of Draft
What About Arnette?
Damon Arnette, the second first-round pick, adds a quality cornerback opposite of Trayvon Mullen, Tanier praised Arnette’s abilities though with some reservations. “Arnette is physical in press coverage, and he’s fundamentally sound in off coverage, but he isn’t particularly fast nor quick.” While it’s too early to say, we can only assume Raiders defensive coordinator Paul Guenther will make the most of Arnette’s strengths, hopefully turning out to be a reliable a second corner which is what the team hasn’t had.
Reservations aside, this first round haul figures to be crucial moving forward as the team looks to get back to the playoffs. Last year’s first-round class also received skepticism if we all remember, and that worked out well. The Raiders picked up a star running back, a solid defensive lineman, and a hard-hitting starting safety. The season can’t get here soon enough.
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