NFL Draft: Raiders get

Added the GM, “Bryan Edwards is a guy that, if you go three-by-one, with three [receivers] on one side and him on the backside, and let him run down the red line, and back-shoulder fade, regular fade, [he can excel at] all the big-bodied throws where you think he can win. He’s big, he’s physical and he’s got great hands.”

In the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft, at pick No. 81, the Las Vegas Raiders added the former South Carolina receiver to its offensive arsenal. Edwards became the first Gamecock selected by the Raiders since defensive tackle Jimmy Poston was selected by the organization in the 11th round of the 1971 Draft.

A STEAL

Raiders love Bryan Edwards’ edge, physical style

By Josh Hyber | Staff writer • Photos by Jenny Dilworth and Allen Sharpe

Bryan Edwards will go from wearing garnet and black to wearing silver and black.

“We think Bryan Edwards is an outstanding X [receiver], meaning he’s that big, physical, tough, fast wide receiver on the opposite side,” Las Vegas general manager Mike Mayock told reporters on a teleconference after the selection. “We think he can win one-on-one matchups.

We loved his production in the SEC. … We wanted to get more dynamic on offense. … He’s a big, strong, physical guy that can run fast.

– LAS VEGAS RAIDERS GM MIKE MAYOCK

“We loved his production in the SEC. … As a whole, we wanted to get more dynamic on offense. … He’s a big, strong, physical guy that can run fast.”

Like many NFL scouts, Mayock was intriguied by Edwards' size and physicality. The 6-3, 215-pound receiver used that size to haul in 22 career touchdown passes, the third-most in school history.

During his time at South Carolina, Edwards set school records for career receptions (234), career receiving yards (3,045) and consecutive games with a catch (48). His 22 career touchdown receptions are one behind NFL star Alshon Jeffery and former NFL star Sidney Rice.

“He had an unbelievable career here. I can’t say enough about his contributions to South Carolina, and he told me before the game how much it meant to be a Gamecock and how much he enjoyed his time here,” Gamecock head coach Will Muschamp said after his team’s final game this past season.

“… You know, in the recruiting process, exactly what I told Bryan was going to happen: You’re gonna walk out of here with every record at the University of South Carolina. I saw that, I envisioned that, and that’s what happened.”

Edwards graduated as one of the most highly respected players in school history.

Before the 2018 Belk Bowl, Virginia cornerback Bryce Hall,

one of the nation’s best at his position and a future fifth-round draft pick by the New York Jets, said he would have liked to play against Deebo Samuel in the game but called Edwards “every bit as good.”

“I learned [from Deebo] that you’ve got to come to work with your lunch pale and do what the coaches ask of you,” Edwards said. “And not try to do too much. Play in the system and take it one game at a time, one play at a time.”

“I think he’s one of the most underrated receivers in the nation,” former South Carolina quarterback Jake Bentley said before this past season. “He’s just a workhorse. You never see him not working on some part of his game at the facility.”

Edwards will now join former teammate Deebo Samuel, Jeffery, Damiere Byrd and Pharoh Cooper as Gamecock receivers in the NFL.

Edwards, who Mayock said impressed Raiders’ brass while on a Zoom teleconference interview, joins fellow Raiders’ draftees Henry Ruggs (receiver, Alabama), Damon Arnette (cornerback, Auburn), Lynn Bowden (running back/ receiver, Kentucky) and Tanner Muse (linebacker, Clemson).

“We got guys with a little edge to them, that love football,” Mayock said about his overall draft haul. “Guys that have some speed, and above all, they love the game and they’re tough kids.”

Edwards admits he felt underrated throughout the pre-draft scouting process. For a receiver with a quiet yet productive on-field demeanor, Edwards felt showcasing his on-field abilities at the combine, as well as at a South Carolina Pro Day and individual team workouts, would have helped his stock rise up draft boards.

But a lingering foot injury kept him from playing in the Gamecocks’ final two regularseason games and participating in the combine. On top of that, the Pro Day and team workouts were canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“But I feel everything worked out for the best,” Edwards said.

At the combine the former South Carolina receiver had a sit-down interview with Raiders’ leadership, a group that included Mayock and head coach Jon Gruden.

“I’ve just going to come in and work. I’m just going to do

my part and do all I can. That’s all you really can do with competition is just show yourself,” Edwards said. “I just feel like I’m a playmaker. I feel like I can make plays with the ball in my hands. I can win 50-50 balls and I can help the team win.”

Several media outlets loved the pick.

NBC Sports Raiders’ writer Josh Schrock wrote an article headlined: “Edwards could be a massive steal.”

Chris Trapasso at CBS Sports gave the pick an ‘A’ grade. “Edwards is a first-round talent who likely plummeted because of a foot injury during the pre-draft process. Incredibly well-rounded game. Beats press. Crazy ball

skills. Good separation-creator. Deceptive [yards after catch]. Contested-catch stud,” he wrote.

Sporting News writer Vinnie Iyer also graded it an ‘A’, writing that Edwards, “projects as a physical possession receiver who can dominate the short to intermediate area.”

During his conference call with Las Vegas media, Edwards was reminded by a reporter that he broke a resounding 27 tackles while in college.

“It’s just the mindset that I play with. I won’t let one person tackle me,” he said. “I want to get as many yards as I can with the ball in my hands. I want to score every time I touch the ball.”