B-
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders bet the future on Mendoza. The board says B-.
by Grumzy ·
2026 NFL Draft
· 10 picks
· 3 steals
· 3 reaches
The tape said wait; the Raiders did not. Roman Hemby went at No. 219, a good 134 picks before the board was ready. A sturdy weekend that grades out a B-.
Fernando Mendoza is the bet, and the class will be judged on how it pays off. They banked enough surplus on Taaffe to cover a lot of smaller sins. For all the activity, edge rusher went untouched, which is hard to explain.
All told, a solid class that does its job everywhere but edge rusher.
Pick-by-Pick
Fernando Mendoza at the Round 1 slot is neither steal nor reach, just the going rate. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
They paid sticker price for Omar Cooper Jr. in pick No. 36, and that is fine. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Lee Hunter at No. 67 is a first-round grade at a bargain-bin price, no notes. A need, and now a little less of one.
Michael Taaffe in slot 102 should not have been possible, and that is the whole point. It adds depth where they could use a little.
Somehow Treydan Stukes was still sitting there in the 117th pick, and they pounced on premier cornerback value. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
By-the-book stuff, Chris McClellan at pick 134 squarely in line with his ranking. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
Taylen Green in No. 175 is early enough to raise a brow, if not a full objection. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
VJ Payne at the Round 6 slot jumps the queue by a touch more than is comfortable. A want dressed up as a pick, at a spot they had covered.
No drama and no debate, Riley Nowakowski went about where he belonged in the 208th pick. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
They talked themselves into Roman Hemby at pick No. 219, and the board did not agree. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.