Complete 2020 NFL Mock Draft: 49ers and Raiders land instant playmakers
By Allen Settle
No. 12 — Las Vegas Raiders
Alabama. Jerry Jeudy. 28. Scouting Report. WR. 12. player. Pick Analysis
Here’s the first (sort of) Bay Area team on the clock!
The Raiders had a number of concerning needs that needed to be addressed several weeks ago. However, a smart-spending approach to free agency allowed Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock to completely retool what was a bad defense in 2019.
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The team added great assets like Cory Littleton, Eli Apple, Jeff Heath, Carl Nassib, Maliek Collins, and Nick Kwiatkoski. This means the franchise can focus on one major area of need — wide receiver.
While the team may be tempted to draft a quarterback in the first round, they seem content to move forward with a combination of Derek Carr and Marcus Mariota. This means Jerry Jeudy will be their best option.
Widely considered to be the best receiver in this draft class, Jeudy profiles as a legitimate No. 1 option at the NFL level.
He is somewhat of a cross between fellow Alabama alumni Julio Jones and Amari Cooper. I predict that his career arc will also fall somewhere in the middle of those two Pro-Bowlers.
Expect the Raiders to add a receiver like Jeudy to boost whoever they start at quarterback in 2020 and beyond.