Raiders 7-Round Mock Draft: Drafting a tweener who could fix 2 positions while also bringing in weapons for Fernando Mendoza
The Las Vegas Raiders will have some insanely difficult decisions to make in about a week when they kick off the 2026 NFL Draft.
The 2026 NFL Draft is almost here, and the Las Vegas Raiders will have quite a few decisions to make. It’s impossible to guess what they will do, or even to guess when they will take each position they end up taking. But practices like these mock drafts are what help us better understand what they can do.
In my most recent mock draft for the Raiders, I plan out what I think they will do at each position. I think the biggest thing that stands out here is the lack of an LB and the fact that both offensive line spots were taken late in the draft. As the offseason has progressed, I have developed a thought process for how they will build this roster based on what they have done so far.
So, let’s dive into what I think would be an amazing draft for the Raiders.
Raiders 2026 NFL Mock Draft
1.01: Fernando Mendoza, QB — Indiana
Nothing more can be said. This is the Raiders’ future franchise guy.
2.36: Christen Miller, DT — Georgia
The Las Vegas Raiders need a defensive tackle who can play the nose position in the 3-4, but also kick out a bit to the three technique when Vegas is in those four-man fronts. Miller is one of the best defensive tackles in this draft, but guys like Kayden McDonald, Lee Hunter, and Peter Woods may take up most of the first round. Miller is 6’4, 330 pounds, and super athletic. I chose Miller over Hunter here because I like what I saw in relative comparison against better competition. Miller is as solid as they come, outside of McDonald, when it comes to being a run defender. When it comes to the pass, he’s up and down, but the tools are there with flashes of aggressive hands and quickness off the line.
3.67: Genesis Smith, S — Arizona
Smith could be the safety of the future for the Raiders, and they need to take one high in this draft. Jeremy Chinn and Isaiah Pola-Mao are both free agents after this season, and behind them all they currently have is Tristin McCollum. So, they need a safety, and they need one who, after a year of development, could become the starter in 2027, and Smith can. He has some of the best zone coverage instincts in this draft and is great at using his length to cover space.
4.102: Ted Hurst, WR — Georgia State
The wide receiver room remains one of the more intriguing position groups on the roster. While there are a handful of guys with potential, a few have yet to prove themselves, and the team lacks a clear X wide receiver. However, the absence of an X WR is not a significant concern for the Raiders. Hurst is that, and can be that for the Raiders. He’s got the ability to track the ball down the field well and is pretty good at making contested catches. He’s got good separation down the field on deep routes, but isn’t very fast.
4.117: Chandler Rivers, CB — Duke
Rivers can be an elite nickel in this league. You may be saying to yourself, the Las Vegas Raiders just traded for nickel Taron Johnson, why would they draft another one? Well, Johnson has dealt with a ton of injuries, and after this season, he will be a free agent. They need the depth there, and Rivers can be great with some development. Rivers is great at making receivers uncomfortable. He’s handsy and much more physical than he looks. But that’s just the thing. Despite having 33 career pass deflections and seven career interceptions, Rivers lacks length and is sometimes too handsy, especially for the NFL.
4.134: Jaishawn Barham, EDGE — Michigan
The Raiders need an edge rusher for when Koonce’s one-year deal is up, and when Kwity Paye and Tyree Wilson are out, too. Barham is a bit of a tweener, though. He would more so fit that OLB mold than defensive end in a 3-4 scheme, mainly because he’s in-between an on-ball linebacker in terms of size, but has the tools to be a great edge rusher. He’s physical, twitchy, and fast. However, he doesn’t have great instincts or discipline as an LB. Pick which one you want to develop him at, and he will find a way to stay on the field by making plays.
5.175: Kaelon Black, RB — Indiana
The Raiders need a backup RB, or a duo to Ashton Jeanty. Taking the load off Jeanty will only help him and the offense even more. So, why not go get a guy who is familiar with the quarterback, in Fernando Mendoza? Black has great straight-line speed. However, he has a tendency to overdo it, and could learn some patiemnce to wait for better gaps to open up, rather than often trying to create one. He will be a great backup in the league and does all the things Kubiak will ask of him.
6.182: Robert Spears-Jennings, S — Oklahoma
The Oklahoma Sooners had one of the best defenses in the country last year, and they did that with a lot of youth in the secondary. A major reason was the leader and player that RSJ was. Spears-Jennings can be an elite coverage safety, but he needs some development. When in Oklahoma, he was in the box a bit, too. He’s a very willing tackler, super fast (4.38 40-yard dash), and not afraid to do the dirty work on DB blitzes. This would give the Raiders five safeties on their roster, with the addition of Haulcy, of course.
6.185: Hezekiah Masses, CB — Cal
Rivers, whom we took earlier, is a nickel; the Raiders need another outside CB, too. Masses has some real potential and tools to tap into as an outside CB. He has great press and man instincts and is very good at mirroring receivers. However, he doesn’t have the best patience and isn’t the strongest player on the field, and certainly not near the top. He could be a guy who would have to work on strength against NFL outside WR, and his patience sometimes gets him in trouble with penalties, turning him into a grabby CB. But the ball production at Cal was amazing from the CB.
6.208: Caden Barnett, IOL — Wyoming
The length and size are great, and Barnett is very strong. However, he still has a lot of developing to do when it comes to pass-blocking technique. It can be developed, and if so, he can be great and a balanced OG. The Raiders seem to like Burford, Rogers, and Meredith as one of the opposing OGs to Jackson Powers-Johnson. So, they really just need depth and maybe a guy who could develop into something special.
7.219: Nolan Rucci, OT — Penn State
The OT spot on the Raiders is a bit weird. They have depth and starters at both spots, but could likely use one more guy there, a guy who won’t even have a chance at starting in 2026, outside of maybe an injury situation. Vegas likes Charles Grant and DJ Glaze a lot, and I could see that being the battle. However, Rucci could be a developmental piece they add for depth.
