Las Vegas Raiders general manager John Spytek has an opportunity to reset the culture of his team by establishing a new identity on both sides of the ball. He can do this by nailing the upcoming NFL draft, though it’ll require one huge sacrifice to do so.
As of this publication, thanks to the New York Giants, the Raiders have secured the No. 1 pick. Many will argue that the team needs to draft a franchise quarterback to help steer the franchise in a new direction. Spytek, for his part, will have an opportunity to select multiple players that can come in and shape a new look.
Here’s where the conversation gets difficult—will Maxx Crosby be a part of that new image? We’ve yet to hear Crosby or Spytek address the matter publicly. Until then, we can only assume that the relationship is indeed strained.
As it stands, Crosby’s trade value will likely never be higher. There are a few factors contributing to this, though none bigger than the wear and tear that’s catching up to him. Playing 100 percent of your snaps will do that. A team that’s been mentioned a lot is the Chicago Bears. Spytek might theoretically flip Crosby for a warchest full of draft capital that can address several holes. But will he do it? Let’s see what a potential trade and, by effect, an incoming batch of rookies will look like.
- Raiders receive: 29th overall pick, 61st overall pick, and ’27 3rd-round pick
- Bears receive: DE Maxx Crosby
Round 1 (No. 1): Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Fernando Mendoza checks plenty of modern boxes, but the Raiders should be careful not to confuse “functional” with “formula.”
Yes, he can move. No, he is not your next designed-run quarterback. If Las Vegas drafts him and starts dialing up QB keepers and zone reads like he’s a weekly rushing threat, that is not innovation. It is borrowing trouble. Second-level NFL defenders do not miss appointments, and Mendoza is not built to live on that schedule.
The real swing trait is subtler: his eyes. Post-snap, Mendoza still has to learn how to hold linebackers and safeties in place long enough to widen a window—or move them out of it entirely. That is the difference between “open” and “NFL open,” between a completion and a tipped-ball disaster.
And then there is the line of scrimmage, where games get solved before the snap. Simulated pressures and disguised free runners ate him alive at times. In the Big Ten, that test gets louder. In the AFC West, it becomes a daily quiz with no extra credit.
Round 1 (No. 29): Christen Miller, DL, Georgia
Christen Miller looks like the kind of defensive tackle teams draft because he should be a problem. Big frame. NFL body. The brochure sells itself.
Then the tape starts, and the fine print shows up.
Sometimes the snap catches him a beat late, and “power” turns into “maybe next play.” A bull rush is useless if your get-off is slow and your hands show up after the lineman is already in your chest like he owns the place. Right now, Miller doesn’t have that one dependable move he can lean on, so too often he’s wrestling the block instead of winning it.
Step up the competition and double teams can erase him, pushing him out of his gap before the play even develops. Against the run, he can get greedy—ditching his assignment to chase the big moment, only to open a lane and leave everyone else cleaning it up.
If the Raiders draft him, they’re drafting a sketch, not a finished portrait. That can work. But only if they’re ready to do the painting.
Round 2 (No. 33): Mason Thomas, EDGE, Oklahoma
Mason Thomas is the kind of edge rusher who sells hope in quick bursts. The first step pops. The effort is loud. The highlights make you think, “OK, that plays in Vegas.”
Thomas is a bit sawed-off, and the short-arm reality shows up fast. If you can’t extend, you can’t create space. And when his hands are late or he misses his strike, tackles land the first punch and get into his chest like they just swiped a badge. Speed is notable but speed with no room to work is just running in place.
The bigger issue is the anchor. He can get uprooted on down blocks and combo blocks now, and that problem only gets louder when the bodies get bigger on Sundays. Setting the edge isn’t optional in the NFL. If he can’t hold it, he’ll get washed inside—especially when tackles stay balanced and sit on his speed-to-power.
Then there’s the medical file: a high-ankle sprain in each ankle. For an edge rusher who wins with burst and bend, that isn’t a footnote. It’s a flashing warning light.
If Spytek selects him, he is betting on tools—and betting the body holds up long enough to sharpen them.
Round 2 (No. 61): Austin Siereveld, OT, Ohio State
Austin Siereveld looks like the kind of lineman Raiders fans beg for in April: big, sturdy, and wearing Ohio State on his chest like a stamp of approval. The problem is the league does not grade helmets. It grades problems.
Start with the arms. For a tackle, Siereveld’s length isn’t ideal, and long edge rushers will see that and lean into it. If you can’t win the first touch with reach, you have to win with perfect timing, clean angles and hands that don’t miss. That’s a hard way to survive on Sundays.
His get-off isn’t always urgent, either. That can let a quick, gap-shooting three-technique slip through before he’s fully set. And if he gives up the corner, the recovery can be a step slow. The NFL isn’t forgiving when a speed rusher clears the edge and your feet are still trying to catch up.
The pass-set technique flashes, but the kick-slide depth and timing can drift, opening the door for inside counters—the kind veterans save for third-and-8.
At 325 pounds, the other challenge is maintenance. The Raiders would be drafting a body and a bet: keep the weight right, sharpen the details, and hope the edges don’t find the seams first. If you’re going to trot out Mendoza on Day 1, you’ll need players like Siereveld for the long run.
*Top Photo: Getty Images