The Las Vegas Raiders have an opportunity to both help their star pass rusher and also ensure their future franchise quarterback has protection.
It’s been an interesting few days for the Silver and Black, which is putting it mildly. Raider Nation witnessed Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza light up Alabama at the Rose Bowl. Then, we have the supposed drama between Maxx Crosby caused by the Raiders sitting him for the final few games of the season. Moreover, the Raiders had already secured the No. 1 pick before they faced the Kansas City Chiefs in the regular season finale.
So, where does this leave things as the offseason officially arrives for the Raiders? Well, most people appear to be in agreement that Mendoza will be the selection with that top pick. As for Crosby, he was indeed in attendance, supporting his teammates on Sunday. Unless something occurs or there’s a dramatic shift in the front office’s philosophy, Mendoza and Crosby figure to be in general manager John Spytek’s long-term plans.
Let’s see what Spytek can pull off, knowing he has to keep Crosby happy and Mendoza upright. Luckily, it’s doable with this upcoming NFL draft.
4-round Raiders mock draft: GM John Spytek delivers a masterclass…
Round 1: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Mendoza profiles as the type of composed, process-driven quarterback the Raiders have pursued for years within an organization that has too often lacked stability at the position.
His defining trait is not the arm, the size or the highlight throws. It is tempo. Mendoza does not speed up when the pocket caves in or the down-and-distance gets loud. He plays like he has a metronome in his chest: step, scan, reset, deliver. That composure travels.
And yes, the tools are there. At 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, he looks the part. The arm is not just strong; it is functional. He can layer the ball over linebackers, hit the boundary window, and keep receivers in stride. The release is quick enough for RPOs and timing routes. The mind might be the selling point: he IDs coverages, sees pressure, adjusts protection and takes what the defense gives him without turning every snap into a dare.
The hand-wringing is simple: Raiders fans know “franchise quarterback” is a label, not a guarantee, and Mendoza is no magic wand—he’s a blueprint only if Las Vegas finally builds like it believes in one.
Round 2: Joshua Josephs, EDGE, Tennessee
Joshua Josephs is an edge prospect whose evaluation reflects a clear blend of high-end athletic traits and developmental areas that must be refined to translate consistently at the NFL level.
Turn on the tape and the appeal is immediate. He fires off the ball with real juice, especially from wide alignments, and his rush menu is not limited: cross-chops, rips, spins, swims, and two-handed swipes. He can create quick pressure with burst and length, and those traits give him a baseline that NFL coaches trust. The Raiders, desperate for speed off the edge, can see the outline of a disruptive starter.
The concerns are straightforward: Josephs needs more functional lower-half strength to avoid being stalled by tackles who can anchor, his hand usage is inconsistent, his pressure rate has not consistently converted into sacks, his pad level can rise and compromise leverage, and his run defense remains uneven due to inconsistent point-of-attack anchoring and occasional delayed recognition versus zone concepts.
Round 3: Austin Siereveld, OT, Ohio State
Austin Siereveld projects as a tackle whose draft value is driven as much by his advanced pass-protection recognition and processing as by his current technical consistency.
In pass protection, his processing stands out. He diagnoses stunts and blitz looks with an awareness that most young tackles do not show early, and he generally works with a wide base that gives him a chance to survive on an island. For a Raiders team trying to build an offense that does not crumble on third-and-8, that mental edge matters.
That same tape also makes clear why he remains a projection. He can bend at the waist and lose posture, long-armed rushers have walked him back, and quick inside counters have disrupted his sets. Early on, he may need consistent help through chips, slides and doubles as he cleans up leverage and inside-out discipline.
The context matters, too. This is his first season at left tackle, and the growth curve is real. In a thin 2026 tackle class, that curve could push him into the top 75. If the Raiders take him, the question is not whether he can start. It is whether they will develop him with patience and a plan across from Kolton Miller.
Round 4: Julian Neal, CB, Arkansas
Julian Neal fits the boundary-corner profile the Raiders have lacked: 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, long, physical and effective at disrupting passing lanes at the line. He plays the run with discipline and force, sets the edge, and tackles with consistent technique.
For his size, he shows the short-area burst to flip his hips and stay connected to smaller receivers, while his zone awareness allows him to process route combinations quickly with his eyes on the quarterback. The evaluation turns on one point: he must consistently convert those traits into measurable ball production against NFL-level targets.
Round 4: DJ Campbell, OG, Texas
Texas guard DJ Campbell looks the part right away: a big, powerful interior lineman with heavy hands and an anchor that can hold up against bull rushers. In the run game, he can move people, using leverage and strength to create push and open lanes. Mentally, he’s advanced for his age—he sees stunts and delayed blitzes early, communicates well, and rarely looks surprised. He has also been durable and steady against high-level competition, which is a meaningful box to check for a player expected to play early.
The concerns are technical and athletic. His feet can be heavy in space, he is an average puller, and he will lunge to compensate for limited quickness. In the NFL, that is where clean reps turn into pressures. For the Raiders, Campbell is a Day 3 bet: strong floor, but the ceiling depends on hand timing, footwork and discipline.
Round 4: Jude Bowry, OT, Boston College
Jude Bowry shows a clear NFL tackle baseline on his best reps, using a wide base, stout anchor and explosive kick step to vary his set tempo, run rushers up the arc, handle B-gap counters and stunts, and generate consistent displacement on down blocks to widen running lanes.
The concerns surface: questions about arm length, upright pad level, wide hands, and core strength that can fade when he must sustain or work in space. For the Raiders, the bet is projection—tackle traits, but a guard floor.
*Top Photo: Getty Images