B-
Las Vegas Raiders
Quarterback settled, Mendoza in the fold, and a B- for the Raiders.
by skaarman ·
2026 NFL Draft
· 10 picks
· 5 steals
· 2 reaches
The Raiders spent real capital to be 66 picks early on VJ Payne, and the board is going to hold them to it.
The whole projection now runs through Fernando Mendoza; hit there and everything else looks smarter. Whatever else happened, they won the night they took Stukes.
They will regret leaving edge rusher for another day if the season turns on it. They left with cornerback solved and the rest of the wish list mostly ticked off.
A workmanlike haul that should hold up just fine.
Pick-by-Pick
They paid sticker price for Fernando Mendoza in the 1st pick, and that is fine. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
By-the-book stuff, Omar Cooper Jr. at slot 36 squarely in line with his ranking. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
Christen Miller slid further than he should have, and the Round 3 slot is lovely value for the interior defensive lineman. A need, and now a little less of one.
They will replay Treydan Stukes at Round 4, Pick 2 for years; that is how good the value is. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Ja'Kobi Lane slipping to No. 117 is the kind of luck good rooms make for themselves. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
They talked themselves into VJ Payne at pick No. 134, and the board did not agree. It thickens a room that could stand to be thicker.
No edge and no loss on Kaleb Elarms-Orr in Round 5, Pick 35; it is a wash and a sensible one. Useful depth more than a marquee fix.
The board screamed and they did not listen, reaching into the next round for Kaelon Black. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
They read the board right and Ephesians Prysock was the payoff at slot 208. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
They stopped a slide they were happy to see, landing Dallen Bentley in pick No. 219. The roster fit checks out.