3 Players the Raiders Should Have a Close Eye on at the NFL Scouting Combine


The 2020 NFL Draft marks another significant milestone for the Las Vegas Raiders, as it'll be the second consecutive draft in which the team is armed with at least two first-round picks.
Coming off a 7-9 campaign, it's clear the Raiders have quite a few holes to address in the NFL Draft. So let's take a look at three players the Raiders should keep an eye out for at the 2020 NFL Combine.
1. Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina Gamecocks
Arguably the most talked-about player at the 2020 Senior Bowl, Javon Kinlaw reportedly blew scouts away with a display of rare athleticism. If that performance was any indication, Kinlaw has a chance to really raise his draft stock at the NFL Combine, and he should go right around where the Raiders are making their first selection (No. 12). Kinlaw would be a natural fit in Las Vegas, as the Raiders could really use another interior pass-rusher. Last season, the team had the league's eighth-worst sack percentage (5.7) and were tied with the Miami Dolphins for the fewest QB hits in the NFL (64). With Maxx Crosby and Clelin Ferrell developing on the outside, Kinlaw could give this unit a real boost on the interior.
2. Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson Tigers
The measurements from the scouting combine are already starting to trickle in, and it's hard not to view Tee Higgins as an early winner. He measured out with a 6-foot-3 frame at 216 pounds with an 81-inch wingspan. That gives Higgins prototypical size for an NFL receiver. If he tears it up at the 40-yard dash or 3-cone drill, Higgins has a chance to separate himself from an absolutely loaded crop of wideouts. With wideout being one of Las Vegas' biggest needs, the Raiders should keep a watchful eye on Higgins this week, as he'd be a great target with their second first-round pick (No. 19).
3. CJ Henderson, CB, Florida
After the consensus No. 1 cornerback, Jeff Okudah, there's not a lot of agreement on who the second-best CB in this class is. If he impresses at the NFL Combine, though, CJ Henderson has a chance to be the answer. The need at corner is an obvious one, as the Raiders had the league's third-worst pass defense by Football Outsiders' DVOA metric in 2019. In fact, the Raiders also allowed opposing signal-callers to post the second-highest passer rating in the league. If Henderson shows out at the NFL Combine, he could prove himself to be the second-best corner in the class, and thus a natural target for the Raiders.
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Max Staley is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Max Staley also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username mstaley1212. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.