Oakland Raiders: Grading the 2019 NFL Draft class
By Justin Fried
Round 5 (149th Overall) — Hunter Renfrow, WR, Clemson
The Raiders opted to go back to the Clemson draft bank with their third former Tigers player selected in this draft, this time being Clemson legend Hunter Renfrow. While Oakland opted for a more high-upside approach with some of their mid-round selections, Renfrow is a player that screams the exact opposite.
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Originally beginning his collegiate career as a walk-on in 2014, Renfrow quickly played his way into the hearts of Clemson fans for his timely big-play ability and ultra-reliable hands. Simply put, what he lacks in size and athleticism he more than makes up for in grit and determination.
Renfrow should have a very good chance of starting the season as the Raiders primary option out of the slot and should be an integral part of the team’s receiving core going forward. For a fifth-round pick, that’s quite the steal and it isn’t a stretch to say that he could have the biggest impact out of all their mid-round selections.
Sometimes it’s best to take a high-floor, high-character player especially after taking a chance on some boom-or-bust prospects earlier. Look for Renfrow to establish himself as a fan-favorite underdog early on just as he did at Clemson.