B-
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders left with their quarterback, and a B- to match.
by MJW ·
2026 NFL Draft
· 10 picks
· 3 steals
· 3 reaches
After circling the position for what felt like forever, the Raiders committed. Fernando Mendoza is the quarterback now, and the roster gets built to his timeline.
That edge rusher hole did not close this weekend, and it was the biggest one on the wall. The Hunter steal is the beam this whole class leans on. If Coogan pans out, nobody remembers the price. If not, this is the pick they hear about.
On the needs board they went 6 of 8, with cornerback the one that mattered most.
All told, a solid class that does its job everywhere but edge rusher.
Pick-by-Pick
In Round 1, Pick 1 they get a long-term answer under center at fair value. A real need, handled.
By-the-book stuff, Dillon Thieneman at pick No. 36 squarely in line with his ranking. It thickens a room that could stand to be thicker.
The board fumbled Lee Hunter all the way to the 67th pick, and they scooped it up. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
They let Devin Moore come to them and pounced at the 102nd overall pick. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Steal is underselling it; Ja'Kobi Lane at pick 117 is a heist with the alarm still ringing. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Jude Bowry at slot 134 nudges the ledger their way without any fuss. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
They took Febechi Nwaiwu at par in No. 175, which is nothing to complain about. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
They paid up for Pat Coogan at the Round 6 slot when waiting would have done the job. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Kaelon Black at Round 6, Pick 27 is a conviction pick that outran the value. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
A premium they did not need to pay, Aiden Fisher a notch or two before his time. A minor itch, scratched.