The Raiders selected Bryan Edwards, Wide Receiver, out of the University of South Carolina. He was 17th pick in the third round and was the 15th wide receiver drafted in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Biography
Bryan Edwards is 6’3” and 212 pounds. He played four years at South Carolina and will be 21 years old at the beginning of the 2020 NFL season. Edwards competed with Deebo Samuel for targets in college during his freshman and junior seasons. Edwards ended his 2019 campaign with a knee injury, which he had also previously injured in high school. He also broke his foot preparing for the NFL Combine and is currently rehabbing it.
College Production
Bryan Edwards had a rare breakout age (age during their first season with a 20% receiving dominator rating) of 17 years old during his true freshman season at South Carolina. Edwards’ senior season was his best season. He had 71 catches, for 816 receiving yards, and six scrimmage touchdowns for a receiving dominator rating (average percentage of their team’s receiving yards and receiving touchdowns) of 40.3% (78th percentile). Edwards had exemplary age-adjusted production by averaging 771.5 scrimmage yards (68th percentile) and 5.5 scrimmage touchdowns (57th percentile) per season throughout his career for the Gamecocks. He competed for targets with Deebo Samuel for several seasons in South Carolina’s offense. His average scrimmage dominator rating (average percentage of their team’s scrimmage yards and scrimmage touchdowns) per season was 16.0% (75th percentile) and had solid production throughout his collegiate career. Edwards was very efficient as well and averaged 0.90 scrimmage yards per team play (72nd percentile). Edwards returned punts his junior and senior seasons as well. He had 19 returns, for 220 return yards, and zero return touchdowns. Edwards’ production on special teams reflects his ability with the ball in his hands and historically indicates a certain level of dynamism at the NFL level.
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Athleticism
[profiler]BryanEdwards[/profiler]
Bryan Edwards broke his foot in the weeks leading up to the NFL Combine. Unfortunately, he was only able to participate in the weigh-in portion of the NFL Combine. Despite being critiqued as “slow” by certain film grinders, his athletic testing at 17 years old was very promising. At 209 pounds, he ran a 4.53-second 40-yard dash for a height-adjusted speed score of 103.9 (68th percentile). Edwards also had a respectable 37.5” vertical leap. This athletic testing is different from the gold-standard at the NFL Combine, but it should discredit the idea Edwards is a non-athlete. Edwards will use his overall athleticism combined with his size, strength, and ability to high-point the ball and win after the catch at the NFL level.
NFL Landing Spot
Las Vegas Raiders: This is without a doubt one of the best opportunities. This team has no WR1 on its roster. The Raiders’ 24th ranked offense passed at one of the lowest frequencies at 55.8% and were in the bottom 10 for plays run. Their quarterback situation is interesting. Carr remains an above average quarterback, but Gruden keeps teasing moving on from him, either in the draft or by moving to Mariota. Whoever the QB is, the volume is there for a new receiver. TE Darren Waller led all pass catchers in targets, receptions and yardage. Slot man Hunter Renfrow came on strong at the end of the year and impressed, but he isn’t the big-bodied-alpha that teams need in a WR1. Neither is Tyrell Williams, who has been a career WR2 and has a lengthy injury history. The only other WR to garner at least a 5% target share was Bills’ bust Zay Jones. The team did bring in Nelson Agholor on a one year deal, but he is notoriously unreliable and a subject of mockery amongst the Philly faithful. None of these options are the receiver that the Raiders need at the top of the depth chart. They are a favorite to draft a receiver high, and whoever they take should be on everyone’s radars.
***Editors Note*** The Raiders selected Henry Ruggs in the first round and Lynn Bowden in the third round.
Rivals’ Rapid Analysis
Bryan Edwards is a gifted wide receiver that will go up and get the ball and should be able to accrue yards after the catch in the NFL. The Raiders invested third round draft capital into Edwards. He has a small degree of opportunity and will compete with Ruggs, Williams, and Waller for targets from Carr.
Bryan Edwards is in Shawn’s third wide receiver tier, Shawn’s WR11, and Shawn’s Overall Rookie Rank 18. Shawn would target Edwards in the late second round in superflex rookie drafts (mid-to-late second round in single QB). The Raiders going back to back with Bowden and Edwards is very curious. After spending a first on Ruggs, going to two wide receivers in the third really crowds this WR room. The Edwards pick provides a higher degree of opportunity than Bowden. Edwards’ big body profile can easily unseat incumbent Tyrell Williams. Williams struggled to stay on the field and only received the third-most targets on the Raiders and has arguably never been the long term solution as WR1. The other receivers of Ruggs, Renfrow and Bowden don’t match Edwards’ physical profile at all. He is the only one with the athleticism to truly fight for the ball, while the others are burners or shifty slot receivers. Edwards could be a great investment at the end of the second round as most players are scared off by the crowded room. Don’t fall for it, the room might be crowded, but few of those players have a similar profile to Edwards. He can easily become a big-bodied, high volume target with touchdown upside.
Bryan Edwards is in Dave’s third wide receiver tier, his WR11-WR12, and his 21st-23rd rookie overall. Dave would target Edwards in the late-second round in superflex rookie drafts (mid-second round in single QB). Edwards was Dave’s WR5 heading into the NFL Draft and he has plunged down his rookie rankings. However, Edwards still presents a great buy opportunity as he most likely falls to the third round in most superflex drafts. Edwards has the skill, athleticism, and production to beat out Tyrell Williams and become a major redzone threat in the Raiders’ new-look offense. Edwards’ landing spot definitely will suppress his value, but his breakout age, age-adjusted college production, and play style make him an interesting wide receiver target in the middle of rookie drafts.
This article was written in collaboration with Dave Wright. For more analysis check out Dave and Shawn’s previous articles at Dynasty Football Factory. Additionally, you can also find Dave’s dynasty superflex rankings at Dynasty Football Factory. Stay tuned for more rookie wide receiver rapid reaction articles from us throughout the entire NFL Draft. We will also give you instant reactions for priority UDFA wide receivers to help you try and find the next Adam Thielen. Interact with Dave and Shawn on Twitter @ff_spaceman and @ff_walrus. You can listen to our rivalry on our podcast @ATaleofTwoRivals with @ff_banterman.
Information found in this article was gathered from @ff_spaceman’s College Prospect Database, PlayerProfiler.com, Sports-Reference.com, AirYards.com, and a prospect’s college team website.
