With the Raiders top wide receiver going for just 651 yards in 2019, there was no question Las Vegas needed to prioritize selecting a wide receiver at No. 12 in the 2020 NFL Draft. But they took the wrong one, going for upside and speed while the best receiver in that draft would have been the obvious and correct choice.
Original selection: WR Henry Ruggs III
Ruggs III was Las Vegas’ preferred choice over Lamb, who was taken at No. 17 overall by the Cowboys. Ruggs III played in two seasons in the NFL from 2020-21. The 27-year-old wowed as a deep-ball threat, registering 18.4 yards per reception, but never recorded more than 469 yards in a season.
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Re-draft selection: WR CeeDee Lamb
Actual selection: No. 17 overall to Dallas Cowboys
Raiders general manager Mike Mayock was fond of Lamb going into the draft. The Oklahoma product was also projected to be taken by the Raiders at No. 12 prior to the draft. NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah saw Lamb as a “too good of a fit” for Las Vegas. And the Raiders dropped the ball.
Lamb went for 935 yards as a rookie in 2020 and has gone for 1,000 yards every year since. Lamb led the league in receptions in 2023 with 135. He has two second team All-Pro honors, as well as one first-team All-Pro nod to his name for his career.
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Honorable Mention: WR Justin Jefferson
Actual selection: No. 22 overall to Minnesota Vikings
Jefferson has gone for 1,000 yards in every season of his young career. He led the NFL in receptions with 128, as well as receiving yards with 1,809 in 2022. Jefferson is another wide receiver that the Raiders had the chance to select with the No. 12 overall pick.
This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: Raiders 2020 redraft: Las Vegas circles back for CeeDee Lamb at No. 12