Las Vegas Raiders: 2020 NFL Draft late-round sleeper targets

Possibly the strongest receiver coming out of the 2020 NFL Draft, Las Vegas would be addressing their lack of receiving talent with a player who could contribute in their running game as well. Antonio Gandy-Golden is a prototypical big-body receiver who uses leverage, strength, and vertical supremacy to go over the top of his opponent and out-work them to the football.

Golden posted 22 bench press reps of 225 pounds at the combine as well as a 36-inch vertical. Neither of these measurables were concerns coming into the combine, but one issue that stuck out with scouts was his speed. Golden clocked a 4.6 forty, making him slower than the average NFL receiver but not slow enough to make him undraftable.

Golden gives a similar impression to Seattle’s D.K. Metcalf coming out of Ole Miss (with the exception of the straight-line speed). They are both physically dominant receivers who can high-point the football and box out coverage but lack the true route-running to create separation. But when you’re 6-foot-4 and 223 pounds, separation isn’t a major issue as long as you can create an angle for the quarterback to place the football out of the reach of the cornerback.

With this strength, Golden could also be on the field for Josh Jacobs running plays, providing strong run blocking into the second level similar to a tight end split out wide. Run blocking wide receivers are always highly-valued by coaching staffs, and even if Golden is not a run-blocker by nature he has the physical tools to be coached into that mindset.