B-
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders bet the future on Mendoza. The board says B-.
by Grumzy ·
2026 NFL Draft
· 10 picks
· 3 steals
· 3 reaches
The Raiders did not so much draft Roman Hemby as overpay for him, 134 picks clear of his grade. It sets an uneasy tone for the weekend.
Everything downstream of Fernando Mendoza depends on Fernando Mendoza, and the building knows it. Getting Orange where they did is the sort of value that quietly makes a class.
The Raiders indulged a want in Smith while a need in edge rusher, cornerback and other spots stayed open. They will regret leaving edge rusher for another day if the season turns on it.
Solid rather than spectacular, and there is nothing wrong with that.
Pick-by-Pick
In the 1st pick they get a long-term answer under center at fair value. A clean fit for the roster.
No drama and no debate, Dillon Thieneman went about where he belonged in pick 36. Useful body for a position without much behind the starter.
Value with a capital V on Christen Miller in the Round 3 slot, a genuine coup. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
Circle this one: Domonique Orange at the 102nd overall pick is a fall that decides a draft. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
A curious use of slot 117. Edge rusher, cornerback and other spots needed the pick; a safety in Genesis Smith did not.
Parker Brailsford at pick No. 134 is a sound buy, the sort that quietly helps a class. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
A reach on Taylen Green in pick No. 175; the board had better options right there. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
This one needs a full-page explanation: Riley Nowakowski in slot 185, miles early. The roster fit checks out.
They took Kaelon Black at par in pick 208, which is nothing to complain about. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
Value said wait; Roman Hemby in No. 219 says they were not listening. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.