Raiders 7 Round 2026 NFL Mock Draft: Assessing a deal if Vegas wants to trade No. 1 pick and still address all major needs
The Raiders have to get the 2026 NFL Draft right.
The Las Vegas Raiders will consider every option with the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. This draft class isn’t great, and while Fernando Mendoza is a potential No. 1 overall QB, he remains a risk. Mendoza struggles with consistency in his reads and accuracy under pressure. With a bad system and subpar players around him, he may not raise the team’s floor — the quality this franchise desperately needs.
If that’s also how the Raiders feel, they should look into trading their first-round pick. There’s a way they can trade back with a team that wants Mendoza, like the Arizona Cardinals or New York Jets — two potential QB-needy teams, and still get an elite player early in the first round, and a first-round pick next season.
If the Raiders wanted to do that — be bad one more year with two first-round picks next season and a shot at Arch Manning or another elite QB, here’s the perfect mock draft. The Raiders trade with the Cardinals, giving up 1.01 and a 2026 Day 2 pick for 1.03 and a 2027 first-rounder. The trade might change, as pick value is uncertain, but the structure would be similar.
Raiders 7 Round 2026 NFL Mock Draft: Trading back from the No. 1 overall pick
Round 1, Pick 3: Rueben Bain Jr., Miami Hurricanes EDGE/DT
No prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft will create as much discourse and polarization as Bain. Some will turn on the tape, look at the box score, and say he’s the best player in the draft. However, some in the league have their doubts, and it’s due to something out of Bain’s control.
A to Z Sports reported months ago that Bain’s arm length would shock the media at the NFL Combine. Well, the sub-31-inch measurement has been released well ahead of time, and it’s fair to say that many in the league won’t go for that from an EDGE player. It’s a risk to take him this high, but if he can translate to the league, he’s a homerun. – Rob Gregson, A to Z Sports NFL Draft Analyst
Round 2, Pick 36: Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon Ducks G
Pregnon is sure to make waves at the NFL Scouting Combine because of his exciting blend of power and speed. As an interior offensive lineman, I’d expect him to grade out incredibly well there, compared to his fellow trench players along the OL.
He’s a player quietly, yet consistently, rising in mock drafts to a point where he even goes in the latter part of Round 1 in some cases. For Vegas, this is a great value for him, and he would immediately push for an impactful starting job as a rookie for their offense. – Adam Holt, A to Z Sports NFL Draft Analyst
Round 3, Pick 67: Daylen Everette, Georgia Bulldogs CB
The Raiders still need some help in the cornerback room. Everette is a very versatile player. His 6-1 stature and bulky frame make him look like an extra safety on the field; however, his speed plays him like a cornerback.
He’s pretty fast, probably a sub-4.40, and is a great zone cornerback. He struggles in man a ton, but he has all the physical tools to fix that part of his game. He’s played 1,700 snaps at outside cornerback and over 100 in the slot. This would be a great pickup by the Raiders.
Round 4, Pick 102: J.C. Davis, Illinois OT
The Raiders need a tackle in this draft badly. However, it doesn’t have to be early in the draft. They have DJ Glaze as the starting right tackle, and drafted Charles Grant last season.
However, they need more competition, and the new head coach may want to get one of his own guys in there at right tackle. Not to mention, Davis is really good, and getting him in the fourth would be a great deal.
Round 4, Pick 134: Harold Perkins Jr., LSU Tigers LB
Harold Perkins Jr.: I am old enough to remember a time when Perkins was a sure-fire top-10 pick in plenty of mock drafts. However, concerns about injuries and everything that happened at LSU have slowed that train to the point where Perkins is a mid-round pick.
The truth lies somewhere in the middle. A hybrid player with the tangible athleticism that Perkins has should be coveted, but the Raiders will have to be careful with his development to make sure he can reach his full potential. – Rob Gregson, A to Z Sports NFL Draft Analyst
Round 5, Pick 174: Bud Clark, TCU S
Clark is one of the more underrated safety prospects in this class. Ahead of the season, I spotlighted him as a prospect who could push his way into Day 2 discussions. While that didn’t come to fruition, Clark is a ball-hawking DB on the back end with a knack for making the big play in crunch time.
He’ll head to the Senior Bowl, where he can improve his stick due to his instincts and plays on the football. When the Horned Frogs needed a PBU or to force a turnover in recent seasons, Clark was the guy for the job. Big fan of this value for the Raiders here. – Adam Holt, A to Z Sports NFL Draft Analyst
Round 6, Pick 181: Gracen Halton, Oklahoma Sooners DT
When you’re talking about this class from a defensive tackle perspective, it’s one of the worst we have seen in years. The top end of this draft just isn’t that good, or at least not as good as they usually are at the top of the draft.
That doesn’t mean there won’t be some sleepers in this draft. Halton is one of them, as he’s one of the best pass rushers on the interior in the entire draft, but because he played on a stacked defense, it’s used against him. Halton is great with leverage and has the tools to be elite in the run game, too. He would fit the Raiders perfectly.
Round 6, Pick 184: Dane Key, Nebraska Cornhuskers WR
The Raiders need to add another wide receiver in the draft. They need another receiver that can play Day 1, too. However, given all the cap space they have, they will end up bringing in a big-name wide receiver.
Key has a ton of potential and could develop into a starter.
Round 7, Pick 219: Taylen Green, Arkansas Razorbacks QB
There’s no secret the Raiders need a QB. In this mock, the plan is to acquire an extra first-round pick for next season’s draft. That would give them two opportunities to get a quarterback. However, with Geno Smith likely out as the Raiders’ QB, LV will need some bodies in the room.
They can still get a developmental quarterback in this class, and one of the most raw, talented guys at the position is Taylen Green. His 6-6 stature and running ability stand out the most.
In one of the best rushing offenses in the country, Green threw for 2,700 passing yards, 19 passing touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. However, he ran for 777 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns. In his career, he has 9,662 passing yards, 59 passing touchdowns, and 35 interceptions in four seasons. He has 2,400 rushing yards and 35 rushing touchdowns in four seasons. The guy is raw, but with some development, he can be very, very good.
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