B-
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders answered their biggest question with Mendoza. Grade: B-.
by Grumzy ·
2026 NFL Draft
· 10 picks
· 4 steals
· 3 reaches
The search is over. The Raiders handed the keys to Fernando Mendoza, and the whole operation now runs on his development.
The Bernard value carries more weight than any single miss elsewhere. They will need Black to outplay his draft slot in a hurry to justify it.
The edge rusher spot stays a question, and it was the one they most needed an answer at.
In sum, a sturdy weekend with one asterisk, the edge rusher spot they never got to.
Pick-by-Pick
In pick No. 1 they get the arm they will build around. A real need, handled.
Dillon Thieneman in Round 2, Pick 4 is exactly on the number, no argument either way. Useful depth more than a marquee fix.
Lee Hunter in pick 67 is the kind of fall that makes a whole class. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
Germie Bernard at No. 102 is the steal of the weekend, a first-round talent at a bargain-bin price. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Treydan Stukes in the 120th pick should not have been possible, and that is the whole point. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Will Lee III at the 134th overall pick is the sort of value that quietly wins a weekend. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Taylen Green in slot 175 is the kind of reach that only looks good if he outplays it. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
They reached a country mile for Kaelon Black at the Round 6 slot, and the board is aghast. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
They paid a round early for Riley Nowakowski in No. 208, more than the board wanted. A need, and now a little less of one.
A straight-up fair deal on Keyshaun Elliott at pick 219, value and slot in agreement. A minor itch, scratched.