Raiders on lookout for WR to hit the ground running
The catch is important, but first, they’ve got to catch on.
That’s the dilemma facing coach Jon Gruden, general manager Mike Mayock, and the Raiders’ personnel staff this week at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis.
The Raiders currently have the No. 12 and 19 picks in the first round. If the Raiders stay in those positions, it would be a major surprise if they didn’t dive into one of the deepest corps of receivers in memory come April 23.
The three names which keep popping up in mock drafts are Alabama wide receivers Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III and Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb. The class is deep enough, however, that the Raiders could probably get a legitimate prospect with one of their three third-round picks.
“I think the cool thing is if you’re a team in need of wide receivers — and let’s face it, we are — they’re strong at the top, and there’s depth throughout, and that’s what you’re looking for,” Mayock said.
Mayock said there may be 20 to 25 receivers (instead of the usual 12 or 13) with grades worthy of the first three rounds but has long been wary of taking receivers with first-round picks. He said the bust rate rivals that of a quarterback. Why?
Receivers aren’t schooled in getting off physical press coverage because there isn’t as much of it in college. Pass routes at the NFL level are much more complex and can change without a word based on the look of a defense.
It’s a shock to the system for college wideouts who often get their instructions in the form of hand signals from the sideline with little or no change based on the defense.
“Jon Gruden’s head would explode,” Mayock said. “You’d better get in the huddle, and you’d better learn three positions, not one, and what he’s asking you to learn
Sometimes, it’s too much to ask. Especially if you’re counting on the receiver being a major contributor in the first year.
“The bottom line is, you’ve got to process a lot of stuff you never had to do in your life,” Mayock said. “The challenge is to figure out which of these kids will be able to process more quickly. What’s their mental acuity? What I’m most nervous about is, if you’re going to draft a wideout, can we get the first-year production out of the guy? Because if you look at the numbers, it’s not real good.”
Raiders wide receivers accounted for 37.1 percent of quarterback Derek Carr’s completions (134 of 361) and 43.4 percent of his yardage (1,761 of 4,054) to go along with eight touchdown receptions.
Jeudy is generally regarded as the smoothest route runner of the three, Ruggs has the best top-end speed, and Lamb plays with physicality in contested areas and is considered the most dangerous
is mindboggling.” after the catch.
A brief look at all three: JERRY JEUDY >> After catching 77 passes for 1,163 yards for a 15.1 average yards per catch, Jeudy (6-foot-1, 192 pounds) came out after his junior year as the favorite target of Tua Tagavaiola. As a sophomore, Jeudy had 68 receptions and 1,314 yards for a 19.3 average and 14 scores.
Alabama’s offensive coordinator, Steve Sarkisian, came from the Atlanta Falcons, so Jeudy feels he’s got a head start.
“He came from the Falcons and an NFL offense, so he brought some of that to Alabama,” Jeudy told reporters at the combine Tuesday. “I’m already developed in knowing the offense. That really helped me.”
HENRY RUGGS III >> If Gruden is looking, give the Raiders their own version of the Chiefs’ Tyreek Hill, Ruggs (6-0, 190) may be the closest comp.
“I’m looking to run the fastest ever — 4.22 or lower,” Ruggs said of the combine 40-yard dash.
Ruggs caught 40 passes for 746 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior following a 46-catch, 741yard season as a sophomore. He said he watches all receivers closely, but particularly Hill.
“He’s not the biggest guy,” Ruggs said. “So him being in that offense and making the plays that he’s making, doing the things that he does, it gives me more confidence to show that anybody can do anything.”
CEEDEE LAMB >> Like Jeudy and Ruggs, Lamb (6-2, 189) passed up his senior year to enter the draft after catching 62 passes for 1,327 yards, a 21.4 average and 21 touchdowns as a junior.
More so than Jeudy and Ruggs, Lamb falls into the category of playing in a spread college offense that bears little or no resemblance to what he’ll see in the NFL.
“I do feel like I am capable of learning the route tree and playing every position possible,” Lamb said. I’m willing to be put anywhere the team needs me.”
Lamb also met with the Raiders during his round of interviews.