B-
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders finally solved quarterback, and it carried them to a B-.
by Grumzy ·
2026 NFL Draft
· 10 picks
· 3 steals
· 3 reaches
They finally answered the question that shadows every other one. Fernando Mendoza is the Raiders' quarterback, full stop. A sturdy weekend that grades out a B-.
The Black pick is the one the value grade keeps tripping over. The Stukes value carries more weight than any single miss elsewhere. They will regret leaving edge rusher for another day if the season turns on it.
Good work on the whole, with edge rusher the one box left unchecked.
Pick-by-Pick
In slot 1 they get the arm they will build around. A clean fit for the roster.
Denzel Boston in pick No. 36 is fine work, a shade of surplus and no downside. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Steal is underselling it; Lee Hunter at the Round 3 slot is a heist with the alarm still ringing. It fills a real need, too.
They took Bud Clark at par in No. 102, which is nothing to complain about. A minor need, but a need all the same.
A cornerback of that caliber at the 117th pick is the definition of value, full stop. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
They let Will Lee III come to them and pounced at pick 134. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
A swing that ignored the value entirely, J'Mari Taylor well ahead of where he belonged. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
They reached a country mile for Kaelon Black at the 185th overall pick, and the board is aghast. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
Riley Nowakowski at the 208th pick is a clear overpay, with better names still on the board. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Landon Robinson in Round 7, Pick 3 is fair value, right on his grade. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.