B-
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders left with their quarterback, and a B- to match.
by ezekiel ·
2026 NFL Draft
· 10 picks
· 3 steals
· 3 reaches
The Raiders spent the pick that matters most on Fernando Mendoza, and a roster that has been waiting on a passer can start to take shape.
If one pick saves this weekend, it is Williams. If Wagner pans out, nobody remembers the price. If not, this is the pick they hear about.
They punted on edge rusher, and it is the miss that keeps the grade honest. Cornerback was the priority and it is no longer a question, which is most of the job.
In sum, a sturdy weekend with one asterisk, the edge rusher spot they never got to.
Pick-by-Pick
In No. 1 they get their guy under center for the next decade. A clean fit for the roster.
Chris Johnson in the Round 2 slot lands just on the right side of the ledger. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Taking Emmanuel Pregnon in Round 3, Pick 3 is close to grand larceny; an offensive lineman that good had no business lasting this long. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Germie Bernard at slot 102 is a first-round grade at a bargain-bin price, no notes. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Antonio Williams in pick 117 is the kind of fall that makes a whole class. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Aamil Wagner in the 134th overall pick is a reach so steep the board needed a second look to believe it. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
They paid sticker price for Zane Durant in pick No. 175, and that is fine. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
They paid up for Riley Nowakowski at the 208th pick when waiting would have done the job. It fills a real need, too.
Jaydn Ott at the 219th pick is an overdraft of the loud, memorable kind. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
No edge and no loss on Jalon Daniels in the 251st overall pick; it is a wash and a sensible one. It patches a soft spot without any drama.