B
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders found their guy under center in Mendoza: B.
by JBHANCOCK94 ·
2026 NFL Draft
· 9 picks
· 4 steals
· 0 reaches
The one hole that towered over the rest is filled. The Raiders spent their marquee pick on Fernando Mendoza, and for the first time in a while there is a real answer at quarterback. A sturdy weekend that grades out a B.
Whatever else happened, they won the night they took Lew. Leaving edge rusher unaddressed is the roster risk they will have to answer for in the fall. Stockpiling next year's capital is patient, if unglamorous, asset work.
On the needs board they went 6 of 8, with cornerback the one that mattered most.
Good work on the whole, with edge rusher the one box left unchecked.
Pick-by-Pick
In Round 1, Pick 1 they get a long-term answer under center at fair value.
A tidy bit of business in the 67th pick, where Josiah Trotter graded well above the range. It adds depth where they could use a little.
Connor Lew in pick No. 102 should not have been possible, and that is the whole point. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
They let Will Lee III come to them and pounced at the 134th overall pick. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
A straight-up fair deal on Kage Casey at pick 155, value and slot in agreement. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
Cyrus Allen at the Round 5 slot is a sound buy, the sort that quietly helps a class. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Aaron Anderson at slot 185 is the sort of value that quietly wins a weekend. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Bobby Jamison-Travis at No. 208 is right where the board had him, plain and simple. The roster fit checks out.
They paid sticker price for Kaelon Black in slot 219, and that is fine. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.