The Las Vegas Raiders completed their 2026 NFL draft after a long four-month process. Finally, the scouting department and front office got their chance to pick the players who could help the team for the future. Of course, it started with the drafting of their franchise quarterback, Fernando Mendoza. He will be the centerpiece of the whole draft for years to come as he attempts to become the next franchise quarterback for the Raiders.
When it comes to the draft, it usually takes three years to judge a draft class. Young players need time to develop, and the first season doesn’t make a breakout prospect. However, with all the picks in, let’s get into the grades for each pick based on value and three-year potential.
Raider Nation is finally going into a season with the feeling of hope. John Spytek and the front office did what most teams do with the number one pick, and that is draft a quarterback. The Raiders selected Fernando Mendoza to become the top signal caller for the franchise.
Mendoza is a 6’5 236-pound quarterback with a good arm and mobility. He produced at a high level in 2025, winning the Heisman Trophy and leading the Indiana Hoosiers to their first national championship. The former Hoosier has intangibles that are off the charts, producing his best when the lights are at their brightest. He is the prototypical quarterback for the Kubiak System, with his size and athleticism for the QB boot prevalent in this offense. Klint Kubiak’s track record with consistent quarterback performance could have Mendoza player well early on.
The Safety position for the Raiders is one of the weakest on the squad at the moment. Since it was not addressed in free agency, it was expected for the Silver and Black to look to the track that was deep at the position. Spytek traded back in the second round to 38 and sent the card for Treydan Stukes safety out of Arizona.
Stukes brings versatility to the safety room, able to play in the slot and as a high safety. While he is a late bloomer, having his breakout season at 24, that age will give him a chance to play early. Stukes had four interceptions in 2025, with his best coming against Arizona State, displaying his playmaking ability. His 4.3 speed and overall athleticism were factors in his pick, with Spytek favoring those types of prospects. Expect Stukes to see the field early on during the season for the Raiders.
With the third pick of the draft, the Raiders decided to add to their edge rusher group, a move that later led to the trade of Tyree Wilson. The player who will be looking to fill that hole is Keyron Crawford out of Auburn. The Raiders decided to go with the value of upside to help them improve at pressuring the quarterback.
Crawford finished the 2025 season with 6.5 sacks and 43 pressures according to PFF. He is natural as a pass rusher, exhibiting the pass-rush plan needed to win at the next level. Crawford is a late bloomer as well, not exploding until his senior season after spending time at Arkansas State. Rob Leonard and the defensive coaching staff hope Crawford can build on his final season and become a full-time player later in his career.
Offensive line play has been the talk of the offseason after the Raiders’ ugly display in 2025. Overall, the offensive line was a mess, but some of it could be chalked up to coaching, given the disaster that was Brennon Carroll. Even with a young offensive line in place, the Raiders added to the group by drafting Trey Zuhn III out of Texas A&M
Zuhn excels in pass protection, earning the highest grade in PFF history for his play last season. He has quick feet, but his arm length prevents him from moving inside. His athletic profile makes him a perfect fit for the wide zone scheme. Spytek believes he is a guard, while most scouts thought he would slide into center because his play strength could be an issue at guard. Zuhn III will bring competion to a crowded interior offensive line.
What might have been the pick of the draft for the Raiders was the first of day three. The Raiders’ scouting department decided to take a chance on a player whose fall had surprised fans and the media. That player is cornerback Jermod McCoy from tennessee who many believed was the top cornerback in the draft.
McCoy missed the whole 2025 season with a knee injury that had him slip to round four. His 2024 season put him on the map, finishing with four interceptions and allowing a passer rating of 53.9. McCoy competed at his pro day and ran a 4.38 forty-yard dash, showing he has not lost speed due to the knee issue. If McCoy can stay healthy, he uplifts a cornerback room and could develop into a top tandem with Darian Porter.
Round 4, Pick 122: Mike Washington Jr., RB, Arkansas
During his press conference at the combine, Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak talked about the importance of adding a running back to relieve Ashton Jeanty. Kubiak and Spytek decided it was best to explore this avenue in the draft and added the top RB prospect, Mike Washington Jr.
Washington Jr. transferred from New Mexico State to Arkansas and flourished in the SEC. He finished with 6.4 yards per carry and 1066 yards rushing, adding eight touchdowns. The former Razorback is a home-run hitter with 4.3 speed and exhibited his pass-catching talent at the Senior Bowl, destroying linebackers in one-on-one sessions. He needs to improve on protecting the football, with 10 fumbles during his college career.
Spytek decided to double-dip at the safety position in this draft and from the same school. Their first fifth-round pick was another player from the Arizona Wildcats. The team selected Dalton Johnson for the safety room and reunited the tandem of Stukes and Johnson.
Johnson is an under sized saftey based on arm length and weight. He is a versatile player in the same mold as Stukes, playing snaps at free safety and slot cornerback, and he had four interceptions last season. Johnson’s size makes tackling an issue that could keep him from playing in the box at the next level, as evidenced by 15 missed tackles in 2025. However, he does cover well, posting a 55.6% completion rate in coverage.
Spytek went back to the well again, but this time for the cornerback position. It was apparent that the Raiders believed they needed to upgrade the secondary heading into the draft. With their last pick for round five, they added Hezekiah Masses, a cornerback from the University of California-Berkeley.
Masses transferred from FIU for his senior season and performed well for the Bears. He finished the season with five interceptions, with only two in his previous three seasons. He excels in zone coverage and baits quarterbacks into mistakes to create big plays in the secondary. Masses is the weakest athlete of the group, but his upside as a zone corner for this defense makes it a great value pick at 175.
With all the top 30 visits with wide receivers, it seemed that the Raiders would decide to draft the position earlier in the draft. They decided to wait until late day three and added speedster Malik Benson, a wide receiver out of Oregon.