Las Vegas Raiders 7-round 2020 mock draft: Adding a playmaker

Round 1 

The Las Vegas Raiders select Henry Ruggs III from Alabama with the first of their two picks in the first round. The interesting part about this choice for the Las Vegas Raiders is that they had their choice of any of the three top receivers, as well as Justin Herbert from Oregon.

In this scenario, I still took Henry Ruggs. He is a perfect fit for the Las Vegas Raiders and what they want to do with their offense. He comes to the team as a legit number one receiver. Now I will say this. I can see a scenario where Tua Tagovailoa from Alabama is still there at 12. In that case, it wouldn’t shock me to see them take Tua with their first pick and try to get a wideout with their second pick in the first round.

Now back to Ruggs. The thing that separates Ruggs from the rest of this 2020 NFL draft class is his dynamic speed. Ruggs posted a 4.27 forty-yard-dash time at the NFL Combine in February. The one thing throughout the course of the Raiders’ history is their love for speed. They get exactly that with this selection.

Ruggs can add so much explosion and home-run hitting ability to this Raiders offense that already includes, Darren Waller and Josh Jacobs. Not only is this the biggest Raiders need, but at the same time, the Raiders just got the best player available. The Las Vegas Raiders have to put up points to keep up with the defending Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs. Adding Ruggs to the mix will help this air attack become more lethal.

Here comes the first shock of the 2020 NFL Draft. The Las Vegas Raiders select Javon Kinlaw, a defensive tackle from South Carolina. Kinlaw falls all the way to pick 19. Throughout the offseason, all major media has Kinlaw as an early first-round pick. In this mock Kinlaw lasted to pick 19, which the Las Vegas Raiders weren’t expecting and ran the card in.

Kinlaw was the best player on the board at the time and the Raiders were fortunate to add him to this loaded front. The Las Vegas Raiders now boast a defensive tackle position that includes Jonathan Hankins, Maliek Collins, Maurice Hurst, P.J. Hall, and now Kinlaw.

People could argue that the need was a cornerback at this spot. In this mock draft the cornerback position was wiped out and at the top of the board sat Kinlaw. I love Javon Kinlaw for a couple of reasons. This kid is physical and explosive inside. At the 2020 Senior Bowl Kinlaw shined as he impressed scouts from all 32 NFL teams.

Kinlaw is perfect for a Raiders culture that wants to be big and nasty inside. He has aggressive hands and has a great first step burst. The reason Kinlaw lasted this far is because of his long term injury concerns teams have for him. In college, Kinlaw played through a torn labrum in his hip in 2018. He also was dealing with tendinitis in his knee this year.

The upside is major with Kinlaw and the medical shouldn’t scare teams away from a potential pro-bowl caliber player that is going to make an impact day one for the Las Vegas Raiders.