The NFL announced during the 2020 NFL Draft that the Las Vegas Raiders will host the 2022 NFL Draft. After complications with the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic forced this year’s draft to be completely virtual, Las Vegas will now get its chance to play host two years down the road.
With the Raiders’ first year in Las Vegas coming up quickly, the NFL had hoped to get the excitement started by having the draft in Sin City. Things quickly changed as the coronavirus pandemic spread throughout the country though, forcing the draft plans to be amended.
Earlier this month, Raiders owner Mark Davis had stated he would be open to hosting the 2022 NFL Draft. Of course, Davis would have likely been open to hosting the 2021 NFL Draft, but next year’s will take place in Cleveland.
Although there is no telling how the coronavirus will continue to affect the country moving forward, some believe that even 2021 will be greatly affected. With that in mind, the Raiders could host the first in-person, traditional draft of the 2020s.
Despite the 2020 Draft looking quite different than any other draft in NFL history, the Raiders are still hopeful to have similar success to last year’s draft.
The Raiders came away with one of the best draft classes of 2019, highlighted by the selections of Josh Jacobs and Maxx Crosby. Both players ended up being candidates for NFL Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year, respectively.
Raiders general manager Mike Mayock and head coach Jon Gruden are in the midst of their second draft as a unit. The pair were on the same wavelength for which direction to take the Raiders in the draft. The clearest need of the team was a wide receiver and the Raiders delivered in the first round with Alabama’s Henry Ruggs III.
They also needed a cornerback and addressed that with Ohio State’s Damon Arnette at No. 19 overall. With so much young talent now in the organization, the hope is that the Raiders will be picking in the back of the first round when they host the draft in 2022.
