A bold new 7-round mock draft gives the Las Vegas Raiders a rebuilt defense and the franchise quarterback they’ve been chasing. The real question is whether general manager John Spytek is bold enough to do what is necessary, which goes beyond just going with the obvious choices.
As it stands, the Raiders really can’t go wrong with their first-round selection. There are a couple of intriguing quarterback prospects that merit such a pick. On the other hand, there are some playmaking defensive standouts that could reshape the Raiders’ defense. One name to keep in mind is Ohio State’s Arvell Reese. The Silver and Black haven’t chosen a first-round linebacker in what feels like forever; 2026 could be the year to end that little streak.
The pressure is on Spytek to deliver a draft class that reshapes the Raiders on both sides of the ball. Here’s one scenario that could unfold in April.
Raiders 7-Round Mock Draft: It’s time reshape the Silver and Black
Round 1: Dante Moore, QB, Oregon
There’s no way that the Raiders can roll into next season with either Geno Smith or Aidan O’Connell. While there’s still hope to develop Cam Miller, Las Vegas needs a serious jumpstart that gives Raider Nation some semblance of hope. That’s where Oregon’s Dante Moore comes in—simple enough, right?
Dante Moore is in a different galaxy as a prospect than Fernando Mendoza.
One guy manages the game and the elite talent/coaching around him.
One guy smashes games open.
— Austin Swaim (@ASwaim3) December 21, 2025
Moore is the kind of prospect that tests a front office’s belief system. His film is unmistakably refined—crisp mechanics, rapid processing, and a rhythmic command of the passing game uncommon for his age. He might be the draft’s purest thrower, effortlessly layering intermediate routes and manipulating defenders with veteran-level poise.
Nonetheless, the modern NFL demands more than pocket mastery, and Moore’s athletic limitations are undeniable. He offers no real threat as a runner, struggles to escape when protection breaks down, and lacks the off-script element that stresses today’s defenses. For Las Vegas, that is a significant concern.
The upside is legitimate, but drafting Moore requires a level of protection stability the Raiders have rarely sustained. In the right system, he has franchise-quarterback potential. In the wrong one, he becomes a gifted passer stuck in problems he cannot outrun.
Round 2: CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
Day 2 could theoretically give the Raiders a chance to draft a difference maker for a downtrodden defense. Patrick Graham might very well be on his way out, so with a new scheme surely taking hold in Sin City, it’s difficult to predict what type of prospect to take. That being said, Georgia’s CJ Allen would be a no-brainer and absolute steal in the second round.
CJ Allen (#3) out of Georgia is probably the best down-hill, run thumping LB in this class.
He may be a little one dimensional in that regard, but he’s so damn good in run defense, it will put him in that Top 50 conversation. pic.twitter.com/463gi9uuux
— Newt Westen (@NFLDraft_Westen) December 15, 2025
Allen is the kind of defender who makes evaluators rethink what a modern linebacker should look like. His speed is not theoretical; it shows up on tape when he erases angles in space and hunts down ball carriers before blocks even form.
He hits with real violence, diagnoses plays with uncommon urgency, and brings a level of technical discipline you rarely see in a college landscape built on freelancing. That interception against Florida and his havoc-wreaking snaps versus Alabama weren’t flukes—they were snapshots of a defender who plays fast, smart, and under control.
Still, Allen is not a finished product. He can lose phase in man coverage and occasionally overrun plays, creating cutback lanes NFL backs will exploit. The question for the Raiders is whether they value his rare traits more than his rough edges. If Las Vegas wants a tone-setting linebacker who can redefine its defensive identity, Allen will surely be firmly in the mix.
Round 3: Dillon Thieneman, DB, Oregon
Moore’s teammate that helped command the Oregon defense makes sense in the third round. The Raiders need as much help with defending the pass as possible, and Dillon Thieneman would provide a much-needed boost. His Pro Football Focus coverage grade of 90.5 helps back up that statement. What will be intriguing is whether Thieneman will be available here.
Thieneman brings a profile that recalibrates what a secondary can be. At 207 pounds with elite speed, he closes with a burst that erases space instantly. His preparation jumps off the tape—he diagnoses quickly, avoids eye manipulation, and consistently positions himself to win.
The Oregon product hits with real force, tracks the ball like a receiver, and brings an alpha temperament that sets the tone for everyone around him. His versatility only adds value, allowing him to function as a deep safety, split-field defender, or slot matchup piece.
But there are growth areas. His downhill urgency can lead to poor angles, and his aggression leaves him vulnerable to play fakes. Those are teachable refinements, not red flags. For the Raiders, the question is simple: do you want a safety who plays fast and violently and is obsessed with preparation?
Round 4: Brian Parker II, OT, Duke + Nicholas Singleton, RB, Penn State + DJ Campbell, OG, Texas
The fourth round is where pretenders whiff and contenders reload, giving Spytek a rare shot to fortify the Raiders’ middle class. Brian Parker II, Nicholas Singleton, and DJ Campbell won’t dominate headlines, but they’re the profile of players who elevate entire units.
Parker is the technician of the group: a film standout with anchor strength, precise hands, and the kind of competitive edge that shows up when elite rushers try—and fail—to walk him back. He lacks prototypical length and can get grabby when beaten, but his recovery skills and balance give him a clear pathway to playing time.
Singleton is the opposite: a home-run hitter hiding in a downhill frame. His burst stresses second-level defenders, his power translates on contact, and his ability to flex out as a pass catcher brings a dimension Las Vegas has lacked. He is a fit for a gap/power scheme the Raiders will almost certainly lean into.
Then there is Campbell, a 330-pound guard with a bouncer’s frame and a wrestler’s anchor. His feet are heavy and his technique inconsistent, but his raw strength, scheme versatility, and stunt recognition scream NFL starter.
Spytek needs depth. This trio provides it with an upside.
Round 6: Bishop Fitzgerald, DB, USC
With no fifth-rounder on the board, the Raiders jump straight to the sixth—where Spytek and his scouts will have to dig deep and unearth real diamonds in the rough.
Bishop Fitzgerald forces scouts to rethink what matters. No blue-chip pedigree, no hype machine—just production. USC’s Consensus All-American posted five interceptions, a pick-six, a sack, and three pass breakups in ten games before his injury, echoing the turnover-heavy résumé he built at NC State and in JUCO.
For the Raiders, this is where conviction matters. Fitzgerald lacks the flash of premium-round prospects, and his late-season injury invites scrutiny. But his tape shows a safety who diagnoses routes early, closes with precision, and finishes plays. He is exactly the type of mid-round defender Spytek needs: a proven ball hawk with resilience, range, and a history of production in every system he has touched.
Round 7: Diego Pavia, QB, Vanderbilt
After neglecting the quarterback position for years, the Raiders should double-dip at the position. Roll into 2026 with Moore as your projected starter, Cam Miller as your backup, and Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia behind them. You might as well just embrace a full-on youth movement and accept things for what they are—no more castoffs and Band-Aids.
Pavia is the signal-caller who forces scouts to weigh production against prototypes. His 6-foot, 200-pound frame creates sightline issues and durability concerns, and his arm can stall on intermediate windows. The pocket can get too small for him too quickly. Still, the mobility, ingenuity, and extensive experience give him a puncher’s chance. Pavia creates when structure breaks.
For the Raiders, he profiles as a volatile swing: undersized, unconventional, and undeniably competitive.
*Top Photo: Official Raiders Website/Getty