Las Vegas Raiders find replacement for Geno Smith, secure answers for most pressing roster issues in latest 2026 NFL mock draft
Latest 7-round 2026 NFL mock draft fills several massive needs for the Las Vegas Raiders.
When head coach Pete Carroll took over the Las Vegas Raiders this past offseason, it posed an interesting question: Was he the right choice to quickly flip this struggling franchise, and could their winning windows match up? So far in the 2025 NFL season, even more questions continue to unveil themselves. This is a program that doesn’t feel like a winner anytime soon.
In order for this Carroll tenure to look like a success, the Raiders will need to add a ton of talent to this roster, and quickly. The 2o26 NFL Draft offers an opportunity to fill several holes next offseason. In my latest 2026 7-round NFL mock draft, a long-term replacement for quarterback Geno Smith was found, and many holes were filled.
7-round Raiders mock draft
Round 1, Pick 6: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
Without McCoy having played yet this season, many have forgotten just how good he is. He is a press man cornerback who has elite upside in pass coverage. Many will remember just how good he is as soon as McCoy finally gets back on the field.
Round 2, Pick 37: John Mateer, QB, Oklahoma
There was a lot of early-season hype for Mateer, and there is a chance he could end up opting to return to school in 2026. If not, the former Washington State signal caller still has a lot of tools to get excited about. Sitting behind Smith for a bit of time could pay huge dividends.
Round 3, Pick 68: Domonique Orange, DT, Iowa State
A nose tackle by trade, Orange is a really exciting physical talent. For as strong as he is, the Iowa State standout is also surprisingly long and quick. If Orange could become a more consistent player, he could end up being a massive steal.
Round 4, Pick 106: Drew Shelton, OT, Penn State
From a pure talent perspective, Shelton has all of the tools to eventually become a starting offensive tackle. His 2025 season, however, just hadn’t been nearly consistent enough. There is still upside, but he hasn’t blossomed into the player that some thought going into this year.
Round 4, Pick 115: Lander Barton, LB, Utah
Barton brings a throwback style and frame to a modern skill set. The Utah standout could play some MIKE and Same on the next level, possessing the length and movement skills to do a lot for a prospective defense.
Round 4, Pick 135: Duce Robinson, WR, Florida State
Blessed with incredible size at around 6-5 and 222 pounds, Robinson is an extremely intriguing boundary presence. He doesn’t have great long speed, which could limit him, but he also brings an insane catch radius to make plays above the rim.
Round 5, Pick 173: Christian Gray, CB, Notre Dame
The best of Gray is a future starter, but the worst is nearly unplayable. He has natural ball skills and upside to get excited about. Las Vegas will need to try and get a more consistent version out of the Notre Dame cover man.
Round 6, Pick 182: PJ Williams, OT, SMU
Williams is a former Texas A&M transfer and has some natural gifts to work with. He hasn’t quite taken the step forward many hoped for, but his combination of size, power, and solid movement skills gives him a chance to stick.
Round 7, Pick 220: Aaron Graves, DT, Iowa
There is nothing flashy about Graves, but he is bull-strong and plays with a relentless motor. There is a role for him if he can find a solid fit, and luckily, the Raiders need depth on the interior.
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