It’d be way too easy to pick Fernando Mendoza as my favorite selection in the initial three rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Indiana quarterback fills a dire need at the most important position in the game and, with veteran Kirk Cousins inked in free agency, the Silver & Black are afforded the opportunity to be patient with the No. 1 overall pick. So it was apt to see general manager John Spytek and head coach Klint Kubiak elated in the Raiders draft war room on Thursday.
Heading into Day 2, though, Spytek and Co. were in prime position with the 36th and 67th overall picks and the GM made a swap with the Houston Texans that dropped Las Vegas to the 38th spot while picking up the 91st pick (the Raiders sent the 117th selection to the Texans, too). And with that trio of picks at his disposal, Spytek added prospects to bolster the defense and offense.
No. 1 overall: Fernando Mendoza, Quarterback, Indiana
No. 91 overall: Trey Zuhn III, Center, Texas A&M
But let’s dive into my favorite Raiders’ Day 2 pick: Zuhn.
Just under 6-foot-7 at 6-foot-6 1/2 and a 312-pound frame, this Aggies lineman was a stalwart blindside protector at left tackle but also had starting snaps at the pivot in 2025. Able to play all five spots on the offensive line, versatility is a major draw as the Raiders are building a starting give and depth with Rick Dennison’s group and Zuhn’s arrival is highly likely to make the fight for roles a fiery one.
But it’s Zuhn’s athletic profile that makes the Aggies lineman a philosophical scheme fit in Las Vegas. Posting an impressive 9.96 relative athletic score (RAS) out of 10, Zuhn is quick to reach landmarks and latch on to defender and it’s that lateral range and reach-blocking ability that make him a fine fit for the zone blocking scheme Dennison and Kubiak are installing.
Trey Zuhn III had the highest-pass block grade we’ve EVER given to an Offensive Lineman 😳👏@AggieFootball pic.twitter.com/qpK0Ntn8r8
For Kubiak’s run game to work, Dennison’s offensive linemen must work in unison to stress a defense laterally while also climbing to the second level of the defense to wash out linebackers and defensive backs, alike. Zuhn is a smooth operator in that regard as he rarely misjudges angles when climbing. And seeing a near 6-foot-7 pulling guard of his mass making a bee line towards the defense is not a pleasant sight for defenders.
2025: 13 games, 11 starts at left tackle, 2 at center, 2 sacks allowed, Jacobs Blocking Trophy (top SEC OL award) shared with Alabama’s Kaydn Proctor (12th overall by Miami Dolphins)
Career: (2021-25) 54 games, 48 starts at left tackle, 2 at center, 9 sacks allowed
While not seen as a mauler of a lineman, Zuhn’s insticts and smarts make him a dependable combo blocker which is a staple of inside zone runs.
But as you can see from Pro Football Reference’s (PFF) assessment above, the standout item to Zuhn’s game is his ability to protect his quarterback. Charted with giving up just two sacks in 435 pass-blocking snaps in 2025, the Texas A&M lineman earned the SEC’s top offensive lineman award and shared it with Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor — who the Miami Dolphins selected with the 12th overall pick in the 2026 draft. Be it the veteran Cousins or the rookie Mendoza, Zuhn arrives with a bodyguard mindset that can only improve under Dennison’s tutelage.
Stark said Trey Zuhn III has been on the radar for a while. The staff went to see Zuhn during Texas A&M's matchup against Miami in the CFB Playoffs, and they were impressed by how he played at tackle and center during the game. "That added versatility to his game increased his…
Announced as a guard, moving to the interior in the pro game is the best move early on as Zuhn’s arm length of 32 1/2 inches is under the ideal threshold 34-inch threshold. That measurement at the NFL Combine is even below the minimum mark of 33 inches.
As with every prospect, there are areas of opportunity to Zuhn’s game. Standing as tall as he does, maintaining a low pad level will be something to watch as he progresses in his NFL career. Fortunately for Zuhn, he has a perfect mentor to seek guidance on that in current Raiders left tackle Kolton Miller who stands 6-foot-8.
But for a Raiders team that needed to strengthen the offensive line and amplifying the ability to keep the quarterback upright, Zuhn is a sound pick at No. 91.
Treydan Stukes was very close to being my favorite overall Day 2 pick for the Silver & Black. Like Zuhn, the Arizona safety is a versatile prospect who can play true free safety or drop in the slot as the nickel cornerback. He has the size (nearly 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds) and speed (4.33-second 40-yard dash time at the combine) to dabble at both in the pro game and perhaps take snaps as a perimeter corner. Perhaps, it’s that Swiss Army Knife nature that may hurt Stukes initially? But don’t be surprised if he earns a starting spot alongside Jeremy Chinn.
The Keyron Crawford pick at 67th overall was one I questioned initially. While the ceiling is high for the 6-foot-4 and 253-pound Auburn product (especially due to getting into football as a senior in high school), he profiles as a Malcolm Koonce with more power. Koonce is already on the roster, however, he’s locked in on a one-year deal and fellow edge rusher Tyree Wilson is on the last leg of his contract, too. So if Leonard and his defensive crew can develop Crawford, he does have the potential to be a bookend-type standup rush outside linebacker who is a hunter-killer for quarterbacks and running backs, alike.