NFL draft odds: Which team will fall in love with Henry Ruggs' speed?
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The 2020 NFL Draft features one of the deepest classes of wide receivers in recent memory. The over/under for pass-catchers to be selected in Round 1 is set at 5.5, but when it comes to speed, one player stands alone.
Henry Ruggs blazed a 4.27 40-yard dash at the NFL combine and averaged 18.6 yards per reception last year at Alabama to solidify himself as a first-round draft pick. While Ruggs may not be the first receiver off the board, teams are infatuated with speed, and someone in the top 15 will likely fall in love with the big-play threat.
Here are the odds for teams to draft Ruggs and a breakdown of the top contenders.
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Las Vegas Raiders | +275 |
| San Francisco 49ers | +350 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | +400 |
| Miami Dolphins | +425 |
| New York Jets | +600 |
| Minnesota Vikings | +600 |
| Denver Broncos | +600 |
| Cleveland Browns | +700 |
| Indianapolis Colts | +800 |
| Dallas Cowboys | +900 |
| Houston Texans | +900 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | +1200 |
| Seattle Seahawks | +1600 |
| Green Bay Packers | +1800 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | +2200 |
| New York Giants | +3500 |
The Raiders and speed receivers go together like peanut butter and jelly, so it makes sense the team is a +275 favorite to land Ruggs. Las Vegas picks 12th and needs a receiver opposite starter Tyrell Williams to stretch the field. However, the Raiders finished dead last in defensive efficiency last season, so they could opt to pass on Ruggs to find an upgrade on the other side of the ball. Las Vegas is also the favorite because it also holds the 19th pick, making it possible for the team to draft defense first and then grab Ruggs if he falls out of the top 15.
After Las Vegas, the San Francisco 49ers (+350), Jacksonville Jaguars (+400), and Miami Dolphins (+425) have the next shortest odds. All three teams can use an upgrade at receiver but the 49ers are the most intriguing. San Francisco has one of the most talented rosters in the NFL but picks 13th after trading DeForest Buckner to the Indianapolis Colts; one of the team's few holes is at receiver after losing Emmanuel Sanders in the offseason. The addition of Ruggs would give the 49ers the game-breaking receiver they lacked last season.
Which teams have value?The New York Jets at +600 are a serious contender to draft the Alabama product. New York desperately needs help at receiver and Ruggs can fill the void left by the departed Robby Anderson. Most mock drafts have the Jets taking a receiver at 11 with Ruggs, Jerry Jeudy, and CeeDee Lamb all in play.
One team to watch if Ruggs slips in the draft is the Dallas Cowboys at +900. Dallas lost Randall Cobb and the team is thin at receiver beyond starters Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup. Ruggs won't need to step in as the No. 1 receiver but would be deadly as the team's second or third option. The Cowboys own the 17th pick.
Best bet49ers +350
The 49ers are in the best position of any team to select Ruggs. San Francisco's biggest need is arguably a speed receiver, and now with two first-round picks, it has the luxury to take him at 13. The combination of Ruggs and Deebo Samuel would give the 49ers one of the most talented young receiver duos in the NFL. Ruggs makes last year's NFC champions even more dangerous in 2020.
Thomas Casale is theScore's supervising editor of sports betting. He's been following the sports betting industry for almost 30 years. A devoted fan of the wishbone offense, Thomas bets on all sports but specializes in college football, NFL, and college basketball. Find him on Twitter @TheTomCasale.
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