It’s never too early to take a look at the upcoming draft class. Especially. If you own two-picks in the first round like the Oakland Raiders.
The Antonio Brown debacle has left the Raiders receiving corp rather slim. Tyrell Williams and Darren Waller have been solid, but Jon Gruden will likely be looking to add a taste of youth to the receiver room.
Rookie wide receivers like Terry McLaurin, Deebo Samuel, and DK Metcalf are making big plays early while both Raider rookies, Hunter Renfrow, and Keelan Doss have been quiet to start the season. Although it’s still early in the season, it’s safe to say the Raiders will probably use a pick in 2020 to select a new pass catcher.
Let’s take a look at a handful of college-wide receivers to watch this draft season:
1. Henry Ruggs III — Alabama — 6’0” 190 lbs
If you’re reading this story, there’s a strong chance you know the name Jerry Jeudy. He’s not only one of the best receivers in the 2020 class, but one of the best overall players in the entire draft. We understand the hype behind Jeudy, but in this story, we’re talking about his teammate who isn’t too shabby— Henry Ruggs III.
Ruggs is the definition of speed. A true burner. Think Tyreek Hill, Hollywood Brown, and Brandin Cooks. The day Ruggs suits up in an NFL uniform he will be one of the fastest players in the league.
You simply can’t say enough about Ruggs’ elite speed. He’s the odds on favorite to be the fastest player at the 2020 combine. There’s already rumors of Ruggs running in the low 4.2’s in the 40-yard dash.
The only reason Ruggs isn’t getting more hype is that he lines up with Jeudy and Tua Tagovailoa.
2. Aaron Fuller — Washington — 5’10” 187 lbs
Washington’s Aaron Fuller is a young nuanced route runner that is becoming a hot commodity in the modern NFL. Fuller will fit in with any offense with his ability to line up all over the field and create separation with his advanced route tree.
One of Fuller’s unique traits is his knack for the big play. Type “Aaron Fuller” into twitter, and you’ll see multiple spectacular catches. Last season Jake Browning was his quarterback who continually threw him contested passes that Fuller had to fight for.
Fuller wouldn’t seem to thrive in these situations because of his limited size, but he tends to win where he can use his leaping and arm length versus bigger defenders. Fuller could be a Day 2 steal that will be able to step in and help right away.
3. Tyler Johnson — Minnesota — 6’2 185 lbs
It wouldn’t be fair to talk about contested catches without mentioning Minnesota’s Tyler Johnson. Johnson is a monster in traffic. He catches everything with some of the best hands in the class. Johnson had a game-winning touchdown grab this weekend on a fade in the corner with a defender draped all over him.
If Johnson can pair his ability to attack the football with fundamental traits like burst and improved route-running, we could see Johnson’s name rise big boards as the season progresses.
4. Tylan Wallace — Oklahoma State — 6’0” 185 lbs
Oklahoma State’s Tylan Wallace is a product of the Big 12, and in today’s NFL that is a good thing. Wallace is a vertical-threat every play. He makes plays on the football down the field in what feels like every game. Wallace’s best trait might be his body control A lot of Wallace’s catches come with him bracketed by defenders.
Once Wallace gets the football in his hands, he’s rather dynamic as a ball carrier. Wallace has excellent vision in the open field. He doesn’t have the speed of Ruggs, but he can find holes in defenses for chunk plays.
5. Binjimin Victor — Ohio State — 6’4’’ 195 lbs
It’s hard to watch receivers and not have your eyes glued to the 6’4″ machine in scarlet and grey. Ohio State’s Binjimin Victor is this class’s biggest size mismatch. What’s enticing about Victor is he knows how to use his size to win. He seems to have a gameplan. Victor consistently boxes defenders out in the red zone then uses his length to cherry-pick the football.
Victor isn’t a dynamic athlete or close to a polished route runner yet, but he knows who he is on the football field— a bully. He uses his size to be a physical presence on the football field to the best of his ability. Victor will be a plug and play red zone threat the minute he gets drafted.
