2020 NFL Mock Draft: Unexpected first-round pick for each team
By Dan Parzych
. Wide Receiver. Las Vegas Raiders. Justin Jefferson. 12. player. 28
In case any Las Vegas Raiders fans were still upset over the team’s decision a few years ago to trade Amari Cooper to the Dallas Cowboys, at least this year’s draft is loaded with enough talent to help fill the void at wide receiver.
Two years ago, the Raiders hired Jon Gruden with the hope of the head coach helping the team return to the level of being a top contender in the AFC again, which unfortunately has yet to happen.
To say the pressure is on Gruden entering the third year of his second stint with the Raiders would be a huge understatement since the argument can even be made that he deserves to enter the draft on the hot seat.
Like a few other teams, Las Vegas will have an extra advantage in the first round with multiple picks, meaning they should be able to address wide receiver early on.
As previously mentioned, this year’s draft class is loaded with enough talent at wideout to help the Raiders fill their need, and while the chances of Justin Jefferson going this high sounds like a long shot, it’s difficult to ignore the 18 touchdown catches recorded last season with LSU.
Most mock drafts at the moment have Jefferson going late in the first round at best since there are arguably better options at wideout to go earlier such as Jerry Jeudy or CeeDee Lamb.
But at least with Jefferson, the potential will be there for the wideout to make an impact right away, and help Derek Carr feel less pressure under center.