The 2020 draft, a draft that was bound to be pivotal for the Raiders, holding two first round picks, and three third round picks. Overall, the Raiders 2020 class is arguably one of the worst in the modern era, with only two players (John Simpson, Amik Robertson) still in the NFL to this day and all of their five first/third round selections are out of the NFL completely, with two in prison.
A fun idea I had was a re-draft, but not any re-draft that just picks the best player, I wanted to re-draft the Raiders
for 2020 but use the same positions at each selection. For example in 2019 at 4th overall, while I would desperately want to take a defensive tackle, the Raiders selected EDGE Clelin Ferrell and thus they’ll stick at EDGE. A few rules:
- Any player can be selected, but only one’s who were available with that pick to start with, for example a busted first round pick, who still produced but not at a first round value I can’t take in round 3 or 4
- I MUST take a player at the same position that was taken at that selection (QB for QB, RB for RB, etc)
- The overall selections remain the same, I won’t assume a trade does or doesn’t happen
I plan to do a redraft for 2019 to 2024 re-draft and then my own personal “what I would do” 2025 re-draft so keep an eye on those.
Round 1, 12th Overall: WR Justin Jefferson (22nd overall)
Original Pick: WR Henry Ruggs III
- Henry Ruggs showed potential for the Raiders, then the crash happened, and that’s as far as I’ll talk about things. You can argue this pick here can be one of two players either CeeDee Lamb or Justin Jefferson, but I’ll land Jefferson. The 4x Pro Bowler, 4x All-Pro, is also a OPOY award winner. Jefferson has a career 8480 yards, 42 touchdowns, and 871 receptions across his career missing just 8 games in his career as well. Jefferson led the NFL in yards, receptions, and first downs in 2022, and has never logged less than 1000 yards in his career. Jefferson is arguably the best WR in the NFL, if not the best, and him or Lamb should’ve been the clear cut pick at 12th overall even with hindsight.
Round 1, 19th Overall: CB Jaylon Johnson (50th overall)
Original Pick: CB Damon Arnette
- Reportedly, Mike Mayock wanted Johnson at 19th overall and Lamb at 12th overall, but who knows the reality. That said, any pick would’ve been better than Arnette at 19th overall. Arnette spent the 2025 season in the NFL with the Texans after bouncing between the UFL but in his brief two year career for Las Vegas he logged just 3 PBU, 29 tackles, and played in 13 games. Meanwhile, Johnson is a 2x Pro Bowler with eight interceptions, 51 PBU, 4 FF, 231 tackles, and a career QBR allowed of 89.9. Johnson is just 27 years old, entering his 7th year in the NFL, and has been one of the better zone cornerbacks in the league.
Round 3, 80th Overall: RB Rico Dowdle (UDFA)
Original Pick: RB Lynn Bowden Jr
- Bowden was drafted as a WR, then moved to RB, if we want to say I need to take a WR then I’ll select Gabe Davis here, if not then I’ll stay at RB with Dowdle. The 2020 draft class at RB was not phenomenal, with Dowdle arguably being a top three player in the class. He’s exploded onto the scene the last two seasons with back to back 1079 yard seasons, eight touchdowns, and just under 500 attempts. Dowdle has been an explosive proven runningback for the Cowboys & Panthers as a second back after taking time to make his impact in the NFL. Overall, the RB selection was not a great selection in general but with Bowden having been traded before week one, then out of the NFL 24 months later almost any pick would be better.
Round 3, 81st Overall: WR Darnell Mooney (173rd overall)
Original Pick: WR Bryan Edwards
- I loved Bryan Edwards coming out of South Carolina, a potential first rounder he fell due to injuries and never put it together in the NFL. He played just three seasons, two with the Raiders after being traded prior to the 2022 season. Edwards logged 45 receptions, 764 yards, and four TD for the Raiders including 571 yards and 3 TD in 2021. I do wonder what would have happened if he wasn’t traded by Josh McDaniels in 2022. Mooney has provided a strong career as a 2nd/3rd receiver in the NFL with 309 receptions, 4028 yards, and 17 touchdowns including 1000 yards in 2021. Mooney is a proven slot receiver, and he’s had three seasons with sub 500 yards, but two above 900 as well.
Round 3, 100th Overall: ILB Akeem Davis-Gaither (107th overall)
Original Pick: ILB Tanner Muse
- This pick was something, Muse played 0 games for the Raiders missing all of 2020 with an injury, before being released prior to the 2021 season where he landed with the Seahwaks, Chargers, and Jaguars and is now out of the NFL and a race car driver. Muse logged just 23 tackles in his NFL career across 36 games with 21 coming on special teams. The 2020 LB class was pretty poor, and I could’ve gone with a few players here, I didn’t select Alex Highsmith & Bryce Huff largely because both are traditional EDGE rusher not a LB. I debated with Christian Rozeboom & Justin Strnad before landing with Davis-Gaither. Gaither has turned in 321 tackles, 11 TFL, 3 interceptions, 17 PBU, and a career QBR allowed of 101.5 in his career. There was not a ton of great options here, but Davis-Gaither has flashed being a quality third linebacker in the NFL.
Round 4, 109th Overall: G Kevin Dotson (135th overall)
Original Pick: G John Simpson
- Simpson has been a quality player in the NFL, including a 2024 season that saw him rank among the best in the NFL at the position. Simpson played in 35 games for the Raiders, with 21 starts and in his career has started 72 of his 86 games. He allowed a career 15 sacks, 156 pressures, and 33 QB hits while being a quality run blocker at just 28 years old. Meanwhile, I’ll take Kevin Dotson here, who’s started 75 of 84 games in his career with another 6 playoff starts. Dotson has seen his ups and downs, but he’s been successful as of late with 19 sacks and 11 1 pressures allowed. His pressure rate has been lower than Simpson, he’s a better run blocker, and has remained one of the more consistent guards in the NFL over the last six seasons with the Steelers and Rams.
Round 4, 139th Overall: CB Dee Alford (UDFA)
Original Pick: CB Amik Robertson
- Robertson had a shot to stick here, and I debated him with Isaiah Rodgers & Dane Jackson, plus UDFA Dee Alford before settling on Alford. Robertson has started 35 of his 86 games, with five interceptions, 35 PBU, 7 FF, and 213 tackles across his career with the Raiders and Lions. He’s allowed a career 103.1 QBR and 21 touchdowns but has had two strong seasons in 2023 and 2024 as a starter, but profiles best as a rotational CB. Jackson has struggled with injures and Rodgers with inconsistent play, so I went with Alford. The UDFA has started 23 of 64 games in his career with 37 PBU, 2 FF, four interceptions, and 216 tackles. Alford has worked well in the slot and boundary, and the 28 year old has been a capable starter or depth cornerback in his NFL career.
