Alabama will likely have two receivers drafted in the top 20 Thursday night. The faster of those two talents has generated interest from several teams with mid-first-round selections and clear wideout needs.
The 49ers, Broncos, Raiders and Eagles have contacted Henry Ruggs the most, the ex-Crimson Tide speedster told Ian Rapoport on the RapSheet and Friends Podcast (Twitter link via NBC Sports Philadelphia’s John Clark). The Raiders, 49ers and Broncos pick at Nos. 12, 13 and 15, respectively, while the Eagles possess the No. 21 selection.
Ruggs has sub-4.3-second 40-yard dash speed. While he was not as productive as Jerry Jeudy, there could be a genuine chance he goes off the board before his former teammate. The Jets, who pick 11th, have also expressed interest in Ruggs. But they are believed to be zeroing in on tackles over wideouts. However, if the Dolphins are in play for a tackle, teams with mid-round picks hoping to land one of the coveted top four at the position could be in trouble.
The Raiders and 49ers carry two first-rounders and possess clear receiver needs opposite Tyrell Williams and Deebo Samuel, respectively. A player like Ruggs would make sense for a Broncos team that rosters the 6-foot-4 Courtland Sutton. The Broncos have been linked to a trade-up, but for Jeudy and not Ruggs. As for the Eagles, they have been connected to receivers throughout the pre-draft process. But at this point, it is looking like Philly will have to move up from No. 21 to land Ruggs.
I really hope the Niners don’t trade back. Outside of Deebo and Kendrick Bourne they don’t have much. Sanders is gone, Pettis and Goodwin are terrible, and Jalen Hurd has never taken a snap. Grabbing 1 of the top 3 receivers is key.
Agreed
seeing as they dont have any thing till the 5th round they will need to do somethig to get more picks. if the draft as deep as they say it is they will be fine. deebo was a 2nd round pick and he turn out fine
Raider Ruggs has a nice ring to it.
His youth football program would be Ruggs Rats.
Unless they were still in Oakland where his inner city youth program would be called Ruggs Thugs.
Scared of people of color huh?
It’s common knowledge to anyone who knows anything about the Raiders, that Oakland fans were never awarded any best behavior awards. Al Davis himself, actually cultivated the dark, violent side of the Raider culture and chose the silver and black colors to add emphasis to the overall image of bandits and outlaws.
What does being from the inner city have to do with color?
Look at the racist.
I’d rather the Raiders go Lamb or Jeudy because they’re a little bigger, and imo a hair better. The Jets will most likely take one at 11 though, so I get doing due diligence here in case both are gone.
I’d rather them trade down and get a late #1 and early #2 pick. There is some ridiculous WR talent in the 2nd/3rd round, and we still need two good DBs and a LB.
That said, Lamb and Jeury look special.
let’s do this howie! 24hrs until the draft is underway and I would think around 9-915ish is when the WR run might begin at #11 with the Jets! In order I would want Lamb, Ruggs, Juedy. I would not be mad if Howie gets any of those three
I’d like to see the run start with the Jets. The Raiders still get either Lamb or Jeury, who look like twins to me. And it could panic any of the later slots, say Denver, to worry that they aren’t getting one of the three premium WRs, without a trade.
I get your thought process, but I’m not sure it’d play that way. I think one of the 3 is there for Denver unless someone trades up, which might put LV in a bit of a tough spot.
To me, best case is the Jets take an OT. The Raiders take the guy they want, which I hope is Lamb. The rest unfolds as it does.
I see Denver jumping everyone to get to 8,9, or 10 – 3rd rder this year 3rd next Elway goes for Juedy- They have 3 this year so it makes all too much sense
I dont think the raiders have an issue with Ruggs at 12 but prefer Lamb…. it becomes interesting if Herbert Brown or Tua is still there / I think 1 will be tbh (prolly Herb) – I really wonder if the slip was on with Okudah if they would try and jump in ? Would prolly have to be Arz at 8 id imagine Jags just scoop at 9 if avail…. 3rd this year and 2021’s 4th w/ Gabe Jackson maybe?
That’s the beauty of the Raiders’ position. I’m all for trading back for additional picks. But there is also a decent chance that Okudah or Simmons could fall to maybe #8, in which case, it would be worth trading up. Or Brown could fall all the way to #12.
I like Lamb a lot, but i don’t think anything is etched in stone.
Yup its gonna be a hoot….my biggest fear is Herbert at 12 who I think will be there
Im up for a trade to 8 or 9 if the cost is 80 this year and a future 3rd or 4th if Okudah Simmons is there-
I dont think Det or Nyg would take 19 80 and our 2021 1st but Id at least swing the idea for Okudah or Simmons….we should be in the 20’s next year if we got Okudah/lamb this year and thats a price im willing to pay for a CB 1 for 5 years….. They would probably ask for 12 instead of 19 but I wouldnt go there at that point — 12 has major value this year…19 is prolly a stinker unless we get a major fall…. I dont see much separation from 15-30 prospects talent wise