B-
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders drew a line under the quarterback search with Mendoza: B-.
by Grumzy ·
2026 NFL Draft
· 10 picks
· 4 steals
· 4 reaches
Boards are made to be trusted, and the Raiders shredded theirs for Roman Hemby. He came off 134 spots early, and the room will hear about it. Solid and sensible more than spectacular: a B-.
They have staked the next five years on Fernando Mendoza, which is the only story that really matters here. That Orange pick is the receipt they will wave around later.
A whole weekend of picks and edge rusher is somehow still a want.
Nothing here to lose sleep over, and plenty to feel decent about.
Pick-by-Pick
In the 1st pick they get a passer to set the clock by. A clean fit for the roster.
Sonny Styles slipping to No. 36 is the kind of luck good rooms make for themselves. Useful body for a position without much behind the starter.
Zachariah Branch in the 67th overall pick is fine work, a shade of surplus and no downside. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
Domonique Orange at pick No. 102 is a first-round grade at a bargain-bin price, no notes. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
The board fumbled Treydan Stukes all the way to Round 4, Pick 17, and they scooped it up. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Quietly one of the better values of the day, Bishop Fitzgerald at slot 134. A quiet depth add at a thin-ish spot.
They paid up for Taylen Green at the 175th overall pick when waiting would have done the job. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
VJ Payne at pick 185 is a clear overpay, with better names still on the board. Depth on depth, at a spot that was hardly crying out.
They liked Riley Nowakowski enough to skip the value, taking him in slot 208. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
Value said wait; Roman Hemby in No. 219 says they were not listening. The roster fit checks out.