If you wanted to play it safe in your 2020 NFL Draft predictions, penciling in a wide receiver for the Las Vegas Raiders in the first round would be the way to do it. The problem is: which one?
At the top of the draft we find three receivers in the “first tier” — Alabama’s Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III, along with Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb. The issue is, there’s absolutely no consensus on how those three should be ranked. So if the Raiders have their pick of all three at No. 12 — and decide to use their first pick on a wideout — it feels like a decision based simply on what kind of receiver they want.
To put it simply, Jeudy is the exquisite route-runner, Lamb is the bigger-bodied after-the-catch monster and Ruggs has world-class speed. Does Jon Gruden have a preference? Hard to say.
In order to cover our bases, we’re going to break down all three guys this week and next, beginning with the speedster in Ruggs.
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 188 lbs
40-yard-dash: 4.27
Bench Press: NA
Vertical jump: 42
Broad jump: 131
College stats: 40 games, 98 catches, 1,716 yards, 24 touchdowns; 2 carries, 75 yards, 1 rushing touchdown; 25 kick returns, 21 yards-per-return
You can’t talk about Ruggs without talking about the explosiveness this guy contains within his body. The 40 number above is not a typo — and, honestly, you could argue he feels faster on tape. It was far-and-away the fastest time run at the combine, while his vertical was the second-best among receivers and his broad jump was fourth-best.
Now all that is fine and dandy, but can the guy play football? That’s the question with Ruggs — the production isn’t quite on par with Lamb and Jeudy, but why not? Can he run all the routes? Is he tough?
The answer, in fact, is a resounding yes on both accounts.
When we interviewed Jim Nagy from ESPN and the Senior Bowl, here’s what he said about him: “Ruggs is my favorite and I think he’s the best one. He’s got a rare trait those other two guys don’t have. And he isn’t just a speed guy — he can run routes, he’s tough, he’s competitive, he goes inside, I mean, he catches everything.”
Nagy added that Ruggs contributes on special teams as well — a sign that this kid not only loves football but can handle the physicality.
Of course, all of that is secondary to his speed. Consider this: Ruggs touched the ball on offense — either rushing or receiving — 100 times. The dude scored 25 times.
One out of every four times he touched the ball — playing in the SEC even — he scored.
It’s an astonishing rate anywhere, but in the best conference in college football? It’s insanity.
Okay: but can it translate to the NFL? Can Ruggs — who wasn’t even the best (or second-best) guy on his college team become the No. 1 receiver the Raiders need?
When it comes down to it, that’s the question the Raiders need to answer. There’s no doubt about Ruggs’ talent and potential, but is he a fit with the Raiders? Because if he is, then this feels like a slam dunk.
VERDICT: PICK
I’ll admit that I’ve gone back and forth on Ruggs, but as of today, I’m in. Speed kills — and when you watch defensive backs have to guess on every route with him in college, you recognize why guys like Tyreek Hill have been so effective. Plus, he’s not just a speed guy — he runs routes and has good technique, which is a deadly combination.
While Ruggs might not ever develop into a 1,700-yard receiver, I think his production would be more than enough to justify this pick — plus, I think this is the type of guy that opens things up for everyone else. He may not produce like a No. 1 receiver, but he will definitely demand the attention of the defense every time he steps foot on the field.
