B-
Las Vegas Raiders
Mendoza is the Raiders' new face under center. Grade: B-.
by jimlarry87 ·
2026 NFL Draft
· 10 picks
· 5 steals
· 0 reaches
The search is over. The Raiders handed the keys to Fernando Mendoza, and the whole operation now runs on his development. Nothing here to lose sleep over; call it a B-.
The Ramsey value carries more weight than any single miss elsewhere. Leaving edge rusher unaddressed is the roster risk they will have to answer for in the fall.
Cornerback was the priority and it is no longer a question, which is most of the job. The offense got the lion's share of the attention.
Good work on the whole, with edge rusher the one box left unchecked.
Pick-by-Pick
In the Round 1 slot they get their quarterback of the future. A real need, handled.
A straight-up fair deal on Omar Cooper Jr. at the 36th pick, value and slot in agreement. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Value with a capital V on Christen Miller in pick No. 67, a genuine coup. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
Kamari Ramsey at pick 102 is a first-round grade at a bargain-bin price, no notes. It adds depth where they could use a little.
Treydan Stukes in No. 117 is the kind of fall that makes a whole class. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Will Lee III at Round 4, Pick 34 is the sort of value that quietly wins a weekend. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Ar'maj Reed-Adams at slot 175 is a sensible buy, a touch better than market for the offensive lineman. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Zane Durant in the 185th overall pick is fine work, a shade of surplus and no downside. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
Taking Josh Cameron in No. 208 is close to grand larceny; a wide receiver that good had no business lasting this long. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
By-the-book stuff, Kaelon Black at the 219th pick squarely in line with his ranking. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.