B-
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders found their guy under center in Mendoza: B-.
by ORRZ04 ·
2026 NFL Draft
· 10 picks
· 1 steals
· 3 reaches
Start where it matters. The Raiders took Fernando Mendoza to run the offense for the next decade, and every other decision this weekend bends around that one. Nothing here to lose sleep over; call it a B-.
Whatever else happened, they won the night they took Lance. Louis has a lot of ground to make up just to look fairly priced. They will regret leaving tight end for another day if the season turns on it.
Nothing here to lose sleep over, and plenty to feel decent about.
Pick-by-Pick
In pick 1 they get the arm they will build around. A real need, handled.
A straight-up fair deal on Germie Bernard at No. 52, value and slot in agreement. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Kyle Louis in pick No. 67 is the kind of reach that only looks good if he outplays it. A minor itch, scratched.
Drew Shelton at slot 102 is a sensible buy, a touch better than market for the offensive lineman. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
Steal is underselling it; Bryce Lance at the 117th overall pick is a heist with the alarm still ringing. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Gracen Halton at Round 4, Pick 20 is right where the board had him, plain and simple. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
Charles Demmings in the 134th pick is early enough to raise a brow, if not a full objection. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
A premium they did not need to pay, Quintayvious Hutchins a notch or two before his time. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
A market-rate running back, with the board and the slot shaking hands on Kaelon Black. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
By-the-book stuff, Lander Barton at pick No. 219 squarely in line with his ranking. Insurance at a position that did not really ask for it.