B-
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders answered their biggest question with Mendoza. Grade: B-.
by Grumzy ·
2026 NFL Draft
· 10 picks
· 3 steals
· 5 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.
Black has a lot of ground to make up just to look fairly priced. Landing Sarratt that late papers over a lot of smaller sins. Leaving edge rusher unaddressed is the roster risk they will have to answer for in the fall.
The Haulcy pick is fine in a vacuum, less so with edge rusher and offensive lineman still on the board.
In sum, a sturdy weekend with one asterisk, the edge rusher spot they never got to.
Pick-by-Pick
In pick No. 1 they get a long-term answer under center. A clean fit for the roster.
No edge and no loss on Emmanuel McNeil-Warren in the 36th overall pick; it is a wash and a sensible one. Useful depth more than a marquee fix.
A want over a need in slot 67: A.J. Haulcy adds a safety while edge rusher and offensive lineman keeps waiting.
Elijah Sarratt at the Round 4 slot is the steal of the weekend, a first-round talent at a bargain-bin price. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
Value with a capital V on Jalon Kilgore in the 117th pick, a genuine coup. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
A reach for Chris McClellan in pick 134; a little patience would have been rewarded. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
Taylen Green in Round 5, Pick 35 is early enough to raise a brow, if not a full objection. It fills a real need, too.
A big swing on Kaelon Black at No. 185, well ahead of any board in the building. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
They paid a round early for Riley Nowakowski in Round 6, Pick 27, more than the board wanted. The roster fit checks out.
Eli Heidenreich at slot 219 is a steep price for a hunch, hard to square with any board. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.