TUSCALOOSA, AL – NOVEMBER 09: Henry Ruggs III #11 of the Alabama Crimson Tide rushes during the second half against the LSU Tigers at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 9, 2019 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
The Las Vegas Raiders started their franchise with a draft pick that was classic Raiders, as Henry Ruggs III brings break-neck speed to a team that could use a playmaker.
The Las Vegas Raiders were supposed to be the hosts of Thursday night’s NFL Draft. When their pick came up at 12, the crowd was supposed to be out of its mind, as NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell walked up to the podium.
Obviously, this year’s NFL Draft did not go off as originally planned, but the Raiders still got the pick fans should be very excited about. The Raiders took Henry Ruggs III out of Alabama. The wide receiver has speed for days, and can catch the ball on the run. He gives Derek Carr (or whoever ends up being their QB) a really formidable weapon that will be hard to cover.
This is the type of pick we’ve seen from the Al Davis Raiders. His 4.27 speed is the kind of thing the former owner could never pass up, and his son Mark Davis seems to be following in his father’s footsteps.
Ruggs might not be everyone’s pick to be the first receiver off the board, but the Raiders went with upside over anything. Having a player who can outrun literally anyone on the field gives the Raiders a weapon unlike any in the league. They could not let that get past them at 12.
Sure, we will always compare Ruggs to CeeDee Lamb and Jerry Jeudy. Many mock drafts had him going later than those two. However, none of that matters now. The Raiders, true to form, went speed over anything for their first pick in their Las Vegas era, and now we can see if it works for them.