The Las Vegas Raiders have a big hole at the receiver position. That is no secret. Luckily for them, they will have several different options on how to address that need in the 2020 NFL Draft.
The consensus is that they will select a receiver sometime in the first round with one of their two top-20 picks. While that seems likely, there is a chance the team passes on a receiver early, but there will be some excellent values at receiver in the third and fourth rounds. There is also a chance the team could double-up on receiver given the depth in this class.
Here are some receivers that the Raiders could be interested in somewhere between picks No. 80 through No. 121.
1. Bryan Edwards, South Carolina
One of the most underrated receivers in the 2020 draft is Bryan Edwards of South Carolina. For most of his career, he shared the field with Deebo Samuel, who went on to have a fantastic rookie season with the San Francisco 49ers.
Edwards started four seasons in the SEC, totaling over 3,000 receiving yards despite subpar quarterback play. At 6’3, 212 pounds, he has experience playing all three receiver positions and contributing on special teams, as well. On many occasions, he actually outproduced Samuel when both were on the field for the Gamecocks.
The only reason Edwards may be available late on the second day of the NFL Draft is due to a broken foot that caused him to miss the Senior Bowl and the NFL Combine. And with no Pro Days this offseason, teams won’t have any confirmed numbers on Edwards.
In the right situation, Edwards could be a high-end WR2 with the potential to be even more. He has elite ball skills, ability to win after the catch, and plays with incredible physicality. Don’t be surprised if Edwards ends up being one of the best receivers in this class, given his experience and plus route running.
2. Tyler Johnson, Minnesota
In terms of production, there isn’t a ton not to like about Tyler Johnson from Minnesota. Over the last two seasons in the Big Ten, he accumulated nearly 2,500 receiving yards and 25 touchdowns. And if you care about advanced wide receiver metrics, he ranks above the 90th percentile in both market share and breakout age at PlayerProfiler.com.
While Johnson isn’t overly fast, he’s one of the best route runners in the class, especially from the slot. He is a dominant red-zone weapon and arguably the best-contested ball receivers in this class. There are certainly some elements of Davante Adams to his game, but it’s hard not to compare him to Juju Smith-Schuster, given his ability to win out of the slot and down the field.
If the Raiders were to select a Henry Ruggs or Jerry Jeudy in the first-round, grabbing Tyler Johnson sometime in the third-round would make a ton of sense. Given how well the analytics like Johnson, he could make for a strong pick anytime on Day 2 for the Raiders.
3. Donovan Peoples-Jones, Michigan
Of the three receivers listed in this article, Michigan’s Donovan Peoples-Jones is the rawest prospect named. In his three years in Ann Arbor, he caught just 103 passes for 1,327 yards and 11 touchdowns. To put that in perspective, Tyler Johnson racked up 1,318 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2019 alone.
Peoples-Jones was the No. 1 receiver recruit in 2017 and the No. 12 overall prospect. But the quarterback play never was able to take advantage of Peoples-Jones athleticism. He’s a big-play receiver who needs a quarterback to throw him open down the field. At the NFL Combine, Peoples-Jones ran a 4.48 40-yard dash but added an insane 44.5 inch vertical and a 139-inch broad jump.
If the Raiders want a developmental receiver with rare tools, the ability to adjust to poor passes and incredible speed after the catch, Peoples-Jones is a great option any time after the top-50 picks. With the right coaching staff and quarterback, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Peoples-Jones ended up being one of the biggest steals at the position in this year’s draft class.
