The Raiders took some steps forward in 2019, going from 4-12 the previous season to 7-9 in Jon Gruden's second year as head coach thanks to a productive 2019 rookie class. After bringing in 11 new players via free agency and retaining five of their own free agents, they added seven players through the 2020 NFL Draft — all in the first four runs.
Las Vegas made a splash in the first round by becoming the first team to take a receiver in the draft, selecting Henry Ruggs III out of Alabama. Ruggs' selection was somewhat surprising; almost every mock draft had him among the top three receivers, but most had either his teammate Jerry Jeudy or Oklahoma's CeeDee Lamb going first. Still, Ruggs fills a big need as a speedy receiver who can stretch the field and serve as the Raiders' No. 1 target.
The Raiders also filled a big need at cornerback in the first round, taking Damon Arnette out of Ohio State. SN's Vinnie Iyer had that pick as a stretch with some other corners rated ahead of Arnette, but he's a big physical corner who is quick in the short area.
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Las Vegas continued to add receivers in the third round using back-to-back picks to take Lynn Bowden Jr. (Kentucky) and Bryan Edwards (South Carolina). Iyer wasn't as high on Bowden Jr., who played QB, WR and RB in college and will likely figure to be a gadget player in the Raiders' offense, but he gave Las Vegas an A for taking Edwards, a big, physicial possession receiver to complement Ruggs.
The Raiders wrapped up their draft with a couple Clemson prospects in Tanner Muse (S/LB) and John Simpson (G) and another corner in Amik Robertson out of Louisiana Tech.
The Raiders were able to get a lot of production out of their 2019 draft class, which included running back Josh Jacobs (242 carries, 1,150 yards and seven TDs), defensive end Maxx Crosby (10 sacks), cornerback Trayvon Mullen (one interception, 10 passes defended) and wide receiver Hunter Renfrow (49 catches, 605 yards, four TDs). And while No. 4 overall pick Clelin Ferrell had a slow start to the year, he started producing towards the end of the season and the Raiders still have high hopes for him.
Here's a look at where the Raiders' picks in the 2020 NFL Draft:
Raiders draft picks 2020: Who did Las Vegas pick?
- Round 1, Pick No. 12: Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama
- Round 1, Pick No. 19: Damon Arnette, CB, Ohio State
- Round 3, Pick No. 80: Lynn Bowden Jr., RB/WR, Kentucky
- Round 3, Pick No. 81: Bryan Edwards, WR, South Carolina
- Round 3, Pick No. 100: Tanner Muse, S, Clemson
- Round 4, Pick No. 109: John Simpson, G, Clemson
- Round 4, Pick No. 139: Amik Robertson, CB, Louisiana Tech
When do the Raiders pick next?
The Raiders are done in the 2020 NFL Draft, barring any trades to move back in on Saturday.
| Round | Pick |
|---|---|
| 1 | 12 |
| 1 | 19 (from Bears) |
| 3 | 80 |
| 3 | 81 (from Bears) |
| 3 | 100 |
| 4 | 109 |
| 5 | 139 |
MORE: Read the latest NFL Draft news at SN's draft HQ
Raiders NFL Draft needs
- Wide Receiver: Even with the signing of Nelson Agholar and the hopefully healthy return of Tyrell Williams, those two are better suited as complementary pieces than true No. 1 targets. The Raiders need to take advantage of their two first-round picks and find someone who can be a long-term option, whether that's CeeDee Lamb, Jerry Jeudy or Henry Ruggs III.
- Cornerback: The Raiders tried to get a true No. 1 corner to pair with Trayvon Mullen, but they missed out on Byron Jones, Chris Harris Jr. and Darius Slay and instead wound up with Eli Apple on a one-year deal. Apple's still a young player who's shown promising talent, but he's also shown a concerning lack of discipline. Las Vegas may be better off biting on a high-potential corner in the first round to compete for a starting job.
- Defensive Line: Las Vegas did well to bring in a pair of solid interior pass rushers with Maliek Collins and Carl Nassib, but the front four could still use a little bit of versatility coming off the bench.
- Running Back: Josh Jacobs could use a little help as he had to carry a big load for the Raiders last season. Adding a younger big back would complement the group well and give Jon Gruden more to work with on offense.
- Offensive Line: Las Vegas is pretty solid up front as far as starters go, but there isn't a lot of depth at tackle. Plus, there have been rumors that they might trade right guard Gabe Jackson, and left guard Richie Incognito is entering his age 37 season, so it wouldn't hurt to start planning for the future and maintaining the quality they've established.
Raiders mock draft 2020
Here are the latest 2020 NFL Draft projections for the Raiders, according to Vinnie Iyer's seven-round mock draft:
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | School |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 | CeeDee Lamb | WR | Oklahoma |
| 1 | 19 | Kristian Fulton | CB | LSU |
| 3 | 80 | Jalen Hurts | QB | Oklahoma |
| 3 | 81 | Netane Muti | G | Fresno State |
| 3 | 91 | Darrell Taylor | EDGE | Tennessee |
| 4 | 121 | A.J. Dillon | RB | Boston College |
| 5 | 159 | Markus Bailey | LB | Purdue |