B-
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders drew a line under the quarterback search with Mendoza: B-.
by JDUBSRaider ·
2026 NFL Draft
· 10 picks
· 2 steals
· 2 reaches
The Raiders spent the pick that matters most on Fernando Mendoza, and a roster that has been waiting on a passer can start to take shape. Good, not great, and the B- says as much.
The edge rusher spot stays a question, and it was the one they most needed an answer at. The Hunter value carries more weight than any single miss elsewhere. If Black pans out, nobody remembers the price. If not, this is the pick they hear about.
A competent weekend that does not make headlines and does not need to.
Pick-by-Pick
In the Round 1 slot they get a franchise quarterback at fair value.
Omar Cooper Jr. at the 36th overall pick is neither steal nor reach, just the going rate. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
The board fumbled Lee Hunter all the way to Round 3, Pick 3, and they scooped it up. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Genesis Smith in pick No. 102 is fair value, right on his grade. Useful depth more than a marquee fix.
Fair-plus on Brian Parker II, a quiet win that adds up over a draft. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
They paid a round early for Chris McClellan in No. 134, more than the board wanted. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
The board had Nate Boerkircher higher than the 175th pick, and the tight end fell to them anyway. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
A clean, defensible pick in slot 185 with a little surplus value in Kaleb Elarms-Orr. Useful body for a position without much behind the starter.
A big swing on Kaelon Black at pick No. 208, well ahead of any board in the building. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
They took Jadon Canady at par in pick 219, which is nothing to complain about. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.