The 2020 NFL season will be unlike any other in its history. Teams did not have mini-camps and OTAs over the summer to prepare for the upcoming season and they will not have preseason games to judge their young talent. That is why it will be more important than ever for young players to excel not only in the field, but also in the meeting rooms, as well.
So far, it appears that third-round wide receiver Bryan Edwards is already accomplishing that goal. The pads have yet to come on for the Raiders, but Edwards has already caught the eye of head coach Jon Gruden in a few different ways.
In his most recent press conference, Gruden once again talked about how strong and physical of a receiver Edwards is coming out of the SEC. But this time, Gruden talked about him as a person and his ability to pick up the offense:
“He was a great receiver at South Carolina. Some of my favorite players I’ve coached come from there. Sterling Sharpe, Robert Brooks, Alshon Jeffrey, Sidney Rice. We knew he had the pedigree, he’s the all-time leading receiver at that place. But he’s physical, he’s got tremendous hands, he’s a quick learner. He’s a business man too. He’s not got a lot of other interests other than being a great receiver. He’s a really focused young
man. We’re happy to have him.”
For rookies to produce during their first seasons, they need to prove to their coaching staff that they can be trusted on the field to execute the plays that are called. And while we are a long way away from Edwards seeing significant snaps for the Raiders, it does appear that he is doing everything needed to eventually become a productive player for the team.
While we are just a few weeks into training camp, Edwards has to be considered one of the biggest winners considering the amount of praise that he’s already received from Gruden, Greg Olson and several teammates. Look for the former South Carolina receiver to work his way onto the field in some form or fashion this year.
