Las Vegas Raiders switch it up in first round of 7-round 2020 mock draft
By Randy Gurzi
Scouting Report. C.J. Henderson. CB. player. 840. Pick Analysis. Round 1. Pick 12
Nearly every mock draft has the Raiders taking a wide receiver with their first pick, which makes a lot of sense. They were without a legitimate No. 1 receiver last season after being spurned by Antonio Brown in one of the weirdest offseasons in history. That led to them trotting out Tyrell Williams and Hunter Renfrow as their top wideouts.
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Both played well but aren’t enough for a potent aerial attack. The Raiders need a No. 1 wideout and this class is loaded with possible fits. Which is why they wait. With the No. 12 pick, they can land a potential Pro Bowl cornerback which isn’t something they can guarantee at No. 19.
For that reason, they switch it up and take C.J. Henderson from Florida here. A talented cover corner, Henderson is a converted running back who has great size for the positon at 6-foot-1 and 202-pounds. He can go toe-to-toe with any receiver and outside of Jeffrey Okudah is the most polished defensive back in this class.
He got plenty of snaps at Florida which makes him very experienced and he finished with 93 career tackles and six interceptions. He also ran two of his picks back for touchdowns as a freshman.
The Raiders unloaded Gareon Conley last season, obviously not believing in him as their top cornerback. Henderson is a player they can believe in and he has the potential to eventually shut down his half of the field.