Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden homered in their first draft class together. Hell, it was a grand slam.
The Raiders garnered significant contributions from seven rookies in their 2019 class. Running back Josh Jacobs rushed for 1,150 yards and seven touchdowns in 13 games and would have won the Offensive Rookie of the Year if injuries didn’t force him to miss three of the past four contests. .
Fourth-round pick Maxx Crosby made 10 sacks, and No. 4 overall pick Clelin Ferrell added 4.5 of his own and turned a corner late and showed off the talent the Raiders believe will be a defensive cornerstone.
Fifth-round pick Hunter Renfrow was a demon in the slot, putting together a seven-game span that compares favorably with some of the best receivers in the NFL. Trayvon Mullen showed the potential of the off corner after getting a starting job in Week 8. Tight end Foster Moreau was a touchdown machine, and undrafted full back Alec Ingold was as solid as blocking Jacobs.
The 2019 draft class came as the cornerstone of a complete rebuild. They entered with a focus on changing culture and had their sites established in a mid-year 1 dynasty building in silver and black.
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Mayock and Gruden entered the 2020 NFL Draft looking to stack talent on top of talent, hoping to add more foundational pieces to a young and talented group. They did that. The Raiders added speed at Alabama wide receiver Henry Ruggs, toughness at Ohio State cornerback Damon Arnette, versatility at Kentucky athlete Lynn Bowden Jr. and physique at South Carolina wide receiver Bryan Edwards. Tanner Muse, Amik Robertson, and John Simpson round out an impressive class that should fit well with last year’s founding group.
But don’t expect the 2020 class to have the same kind of impact as the 2019 crew. Last year, the Raiders rookies had the most touchdowns (17), most yards after the catch (676). , the most rushing yards (1,167) and the most rushing touchdowns (seven) in the NFL. They came in, were responsible, helped drive a culture change, and were seven of the biggest players in silver and black. That was just year 1. Not to mention that first-round pick Johnathan Abram played just one game after suffering a shoulder injury in Week 1.
The 2020 class is talented, of that, there is little doubt. They are all highly motivated players with chips on their shoulders the size of Gruden’s raised eyebrows. Ruggs will kick off right away and give the Raiders the necessary speed and playability on the outside. Alabama will watch Jacobs and tight end Darren Waller as defenses try not to burn out at their 4.27 speed. Gruden has undoubtedly spent the past few months planning various ways to put the ball in Ruggs ‘hands, hoping the power receiver can give the Raiders’ offense a dimension it lacked a year ago.
But after Ruggs, who could be the most talented prospect in both classes, the 2020 class has plenty of question marks. It is not about their overall talent, but the roles they will have in the 2020 Raiders.
Arnette is a hard-core physical press corner who returned to the state of Ohio for her senior season to reshape her legacy. He did, playing the entire season with a broken hand while allowing the lowest passer rating when he was the target. But the coronavirus pandemic ended the minicamp and OTAs, and now Arnette will enter training camp in a battle with Prince Amukamara for the other spot on the opening corner in front of Mullen. Amukamara is a consistent veteran that Pro Football Focus ranked as the No. 5 press corner in the NFL last season. After a weird offseason, it’s easy to see Amukamara get the go-ahead to take some pressure off Arnette initially.
Bowden enters the camp as a complete puzzle. Bowden, a super versatile athlete, played as a wide receiver in Kentucky before playing as a wild quarterback last season. The Raiders recruited him as a running back, but plan to play him as “Joker” in Gruden’s offense. Bowden has the ability to play, but we have no idea how it will be used or how often it will be on the field in 2020.
Edwards was stealing the draft. A first-round talent who dropped to the third round due to a foot injury, Edwards is a great physical catcher who must pair well with Ruggs. Edwards will enter the camp in a battle with Nelson Agholor and Zay Jones for the No. 4 receiver position. While the lack of OTA could harm Edwards’ ability to win the job, his raw talent and great potential make him the Rookie who is more likely to have a massive impact in 2020 after Ruggs.
Robertson, Muse and Simpson enter 2020 as deep pieces that the Raiders look forward to as headlines in the future. Robertson is a small corner with good ball skills that should replace Lamarcus Joyner at the slot in a year or two. Muse will spend the year transitioning from safety to linebacker and Simpson will provide interior line depth.
[[[[RELATED:Four Raiders rank battles to watch on training groundThe 2020 class is solid, with talent to help the Raiders take a big leap in 2020. But it’s rare for a team to get as much out of a rookie class as the Raiders did in 2019. It was a combination of supreme talent and opportunity. That allowed them to shine and show that they were the future of Silver and Black.
The 2020 class will be essential to the growth of the Raiders as Gruden’s rebuilding reaches Phase 2. But in 2020, Ruggs may be the only rookie to have an immediate and revealing impact. Edwards and Arnette face tough battles on training ground to win starting roles, and the rest of the solid class will be seen with both eyes going forward.
The 2019 class set the bar in the stratosphere. It’s okay if the 2020 class can’t erase your brand. Few can.
