John Spytek’s confidence in two sophomore players may tell the story about what he wants to do in the 2026 NFL Draft
The Las Vegas Raiders drafted two wide receivers last season, and they may want to see what they have first this year before taking another wide receiver high in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Las Vegas Raiders do have a need at the wide receiver position as they enter the 2026 NFL Draft. However, the question remains: when will they address that need in the draft, given that they have 10 picks?
That question is formulated because of what general manager John Spytek did last season. He drafted two wide receivers in Jack Bech and Dont’e Thornton in the second and fourth rounds. That’s a lot of draft capital just to go right back to the well and draft one high again the next season. But we don’t know what those two guys will be in the NFL. Their rookie seasons weren’t good, and their second season could show they really don’t need another WR.
The Raiders are projecting some growth, for sure.
“Yeah, two guys that have spent a lot of time in Las Vegas when they could be elsewhere,” Spytek started when asked about the two WRs. “And I see a growth and maturity, a hunger that maybe their rookie year didn’t go the way that they wanted it to, and two guys that are determined to make the most of the opportunity they have out in front of them.”
The Raiders have been projected by many to take a WR in Rounds 2-4
Pre-draft visits don’t reveal draft choices but do show interest. Sometimes teams meet players to gather intel on teammates. The Raiders‘ visits show that one position stands out. The Raiders have met with Georgia State WR Ted Hurst, ECU WR Anthony Smith, and Texas A&M WR KC Concepcion, Alabama WR Germie Bernard, Washington WR Denzel Boston, Louisville WR Chris Bell, Texas Tech WR Caleb Douglas, Georgia WR Zachariah Branch, and Indiana WR Omar Cooper Jr.
Seven are top-30 visits, indicating the Raiders are seriously considering a wide receiver. Of 15 visits so far, seven are for WRs.
Head coach Klint Kubiak recently praised the WR room, but activity suggests doubts remain. The group has potential, but much to prove. Pre-draft actions signal WR could be targeted in rounds two to four.
Spytek is still confident in his guys
Bech was drafted in the second round for a reason. He was a former tight end at LSU who switched to WR at TCU and finished with over 1,000 receiving yards in his final college season. He has some great talent, especially when it comes to getting open and catching the ball—the two most important things. Thornton is an athletic freak whose body does things athletically that shouldn’t be possible, with 4.3 speed at 6’5.
So, of course, Spytek isn’t giving up on them after just one year on a very bad team.
“Well, they’re both physically gifted,” Spytek said. “They’re both big, and they work really hard, and it’s really important to them. And they seek people out, they look for answers, they look for ways to get better. They’re always trying to learn, and they work their tails off. It means a lot to both of those guys. And I’ll stand by guys like that. I mean, guys that are willing to lay it on the line and exhaust themselves to get better and be vulnerable and ask questions and take feedback and take criticism in a sense, I think you want guys on your team like that because you know they’re going to get better.”
The Raiders are looking to put as many weapons around Fernando Mendoza as possible, but they may already have what they need.
