B-
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders answered their biggest question with Mendoza. Grade: B-.
by TMoss19 ·
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. It does the job without flash, and the B- reflects it.
They banked enough surplus on Sarratt to cover a lot of smaller sins. The edge rusher hole is the one line item this class does not answer. The cost of the Nwankpa reach is exactly the players who went right after him.
In sum, a sturdy weekend with one asterisk, the edge rusher spot they never got to.
Pick-by-Pick
In the Round 1 slot they get their guy under center for the next decade at fair value. A clean fit for the roster.
They paid sticker price for Anthony Hill Jr. in Round 2, Pick 4, and that is fine. Useful depth more than a marquee fix.
A top-tier interior defensive lineman at a bargain, Lee Hunter in slot 67, plain and simple. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
You do not let a wide receiver like Elijah Sarratt reach the 102nd overall pick and blink. They did not. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
A quiet steal in pick 117: Bud Clark for less than the market said. A minor need, but a need all the same.
Hezekiah Masses in the 134th pick is exactly on the number, no argument either way. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Febechi Nwaiwu at No. 175 is right where the board had him, plain and simple. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
Red Murdock at pick No. 185 is a clear overpay, with better names still on the board. They doubled down on a strength rather than a need.
TJ Hall at pick 208 is a conviction pick that outran the value. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
A premium they did not need to pay, Xavier Nwankpa a notch or two before his time. It is more luxury than necessity; they were already set here.