Without worrying about draft position or team need, which player in the 2022 NFL Draft would make the most sense with the Raiders? That answer seems pretty obvious.
The Raiders have a lack of speed at the wide receiver position and it feels likely that they will use the No. 22 pick to address that need. And there is only one player in this class that has the top-end speed the Raiders are searching for at wide receiver; Jameson Williams.
In a recent article by Conor McQuiston of Pro Football Focus, he named the best player fit for every team going into the 2022 NFL Draft. For the Raiders, that was none other than Williams. Here is what he had to say about why the fit makes so much sense for both parties:
“The Raiders have a strong base for a wide receiver corps. Bryan Edwards has developed into a solid outside option for the team, and Hunter Renfrow is now one of the NFL’s premier slot players. While this is a well-rounded group, it is sorely lacking a downfield threat, relying on 32-year-old DeSean Jackson in 2021 after Henry Ruggs III‘s release.
Jameson Williams solves these problems. His reported high school 40-yard dash time would already place him in the 75th percentile of NFL combine wide receivers, and his 14.6-yard average depth of target and 40% explosive rate rank 30th among the 214 drafted FBS wideouts since 2015. He could fill a mostly vacant role in Las Vegas’ offense, creating explosive plays and pushing the ball downfield.”
Williams will not work out at the 2022 NFL Combine as he tore his ACL in the National Championship game just a few weeks ago. He did say that the plan is for him to be ready by Week 1, but that certainly isn’t a given. He did say he was ahead of schedule in his rehab, but that only includes walking.
Even despite the knee injury, Williams might be the top receiver in this year’s class as he’s got home-run speed and elite production. If Williams does make it to pick No. 22 and is available for the Raiders, this seems like a dream fit for everyone. He would give the Raiders more speed at receiver and open up the underneath routes for Darren Waller and Hunter Renfrow.
As long as the medicals come out clean, Williams should be at the top of the draft board for the Raiders in the first round. Not only would he thrive in Las Vegas, but he would make the entire team better. And that’s exactly what the Raiders were missing at wide receiver last season.
