The Las Vegas Raiders selected Lynn Bowden, Wide Receiver, out of the University of Kentucky. He was the 16th pick in the third round and was the 14th wide receiver drafted in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Biography
Lynn Bowden is 5’11” and 204 pounds. He played three years at Kentucky and will be 22 years old at the beginning of the 2020 NFL season. 2019 Paul Hornung Award winner as college football’s most versatile player and First Team All-American. He also led the SEC in all-purpose yards. Lynn Bowden played eight games as the starting quarterback for the Wildcats in 2019.
College Production
Lynn Bowden broke out at the age of 20 (age during their first season with a 20% receiving dominator rating) in his second season in Lexington. Bowden’s best season from a receiving point of view was his sophomore season at 21 years old. Bowden had 67 catches, for 745 receiving yards, and five scrimmage touchdowns for a receiving dominator rating (average percentage of their team’s receiving yards and receiving touchdowns) of 35.6% (63rd percentile). From a yards from scrimmage standpoint, Bowden had his best season in 2019 and he accounted for 33.3% of all Kentucky’s rushing and receiving yards. He has solid exceptional age-adjusted production. He averaged 944.3 scrimmage yards (84th percentile) and 6.3 scrimmage touchdowns (68th percentile) per season for an average scrimmage dominator rating (average percentage of their team’s scrimmage yards and scrimmage touchdowns) per season of 16.8% (78th percentile). Bowden was very efficient as well and averaged 1.14 scrimmage yards per team play (88th percentile). Bowden was also dynamic on special teams. He had 80 returns, for 1,827 return yards, and two return touchdowns.
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Athleticism
[profiler]LynnBowden[/profiler]
Lynn Bowden did not participate in the NFL Combine because of a hamstring injury. His pro day was cancelled due to COVID-19. Bowden is a high BMI wide receiver that worked primarily out of the slot when playing receiver for Kentucky. He has a special ability with the ball in his hands and should create a lot of yards after the catch in the NFL.
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 Bryan Edwards in the third round.
Rivals’ Rapid Analysis
Lynn Bowden is a dynamic player that had solid age-adjusted production in college. He’s a compact wide receiver that can make defenders miss and it will be intriguing to see how his skills translate to the NFL level. The Raiders invested third round draft capital into Bowden. He has a slim degree of opportunity and will compete with Ruggs, Williams, and Waller for targets from Carr.
Lynn Bowden is in Dave’s third wide receiver tier, his WR11-WR12, and his 21st-23rd rookie overall. Dave would target Bowden in the late second round of superflex rookie drafts (mid-second round in single QB). Lynn Bowden was one of Dave’s favorite targets throughout the pre-draft process. Bowden was a dynamic player with excellent age-adjusted production. However, landing with the Raiders really weakens his potential value and upside. Bowden will compete for targets with Ruggs, Williams, Waller, Renfrow, and Bryan Edwards. Bowden could still become the second option for the Raiders, but the water is muddied and he now falls to the end of the second round in rookie drafts.
Lynn Bowden is in Shawn’s third wide receiver tier, Shawn’s WR18, and Shawn’s Overall Rookie Rank 34. Shawn would target Bowden in the late third round in superflex rookie drafts (mid to late third round in single QB). The Raiders going back to back with Bowden and Edwards is very curious. After spending a first round pick on Ruggs, getting two more wide receivers in the third round really crowds this WR room. Bowden’s small, shifty profile seems to conflict with Hunter Renfrow’s role in the slot. But incumbents Williams and Renfrow both struggled to stay on the field last year. Bowden’s path to targets is complicated, Renfrow performed well in the slot role last season, and most of these receivers are under contract for a while. Bowden is worth a late third round pick and potential injury stash because of the injury history of that receiver room, but don’t tie yourself into knots trying to land him.
This article was written in collaboration with Shawn Kennedy. 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.
