After a monumentally disappointing season, the Las Vegas Raiders will pick first overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. That honor comes only with finishing as the league’s worst team, but it still marks a significant moment for the franchise.
The Raiders also moved quickly to address the fallout, firing head coach Pete Carroll on Monday. A future Hall of Famer, Carroll never found traction in Las Vegas. Owner Mark Davis deserves credit for recognizing it early and choosing to make a change.
Now searching for another coach, the Raiders can offer a selling point no other team can match: the No. 1 pick. It also gives them a chance to pair a new coach with a first-round quarterback—something they have not done since 2007.
Raiders 3-Round Mock Draft: Building a new offensive foundation…
Round 1: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
This is likely to be the most common projection in mock drafts for the next several months, and for good reason.
Fernando Mendoza, the leader of an Indiana team that has reached the top tier of the college football landscape, is widely viewed as the top quarterback in this class. Oregon’s Dante Moore could still return to school and reshape the conversation, but Mendoza checks many of the boxes NFL teams prioritize at the position.
He has the frame evaluators want in a first-round quarterback. Listed at 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, Mendoza may not have elite, rare arm strength, but his tools are more than adequate for an NFL offense and fit the profile of recent high-end starters.
His accuracy is the selling point. With a completion rate above 72%, Mendoza consistently puts the ball where receivers can finish and create after the catch. His film shows repeated examples of anticipation throws and tight-window placement, including downfield shots that lead targets into space.
Raiders fans should also appreciate his poise under pressure. Indiana has rarely played from behind this season, but the Penn State game stands out. Mendoza stayed calm in a hostile environment and led a late scoring drive, punctuated by several high-difficulty throws.
It has been nearly 20 years since the Raiders drafted a quarterback in the first round, an eye-opening reality for a franchise that has searched for long-term stability at the position. With the No. 1 pick now in hand, Las Vegas has a clear opportunity to secure its next franchise quarterback.
Related: Maxx Crosby trade scenarios dominate headlines
Round 2: Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama
With a new quarterback on the way, Las Vegas must do everything possible to help him succeed. Around the NFL, teams have increasingly paired young quarterbacks with young receivers, and the Raiders follow that approach here.
Germie Bernard finished the 2025 season with 64 catches for 862 yards and seven touchdowns, emerging as a go-to option in an Alabama offense loaded with talent. He became a trusted target for quarterback Ty Simpson, in large part because of his strong hands and reliability in traffic. Bernard consistently finishes catches over the middle, downfield and through contact.
He is not a polished route runner, but his ability after the catch stands out. He breaks tackles, gets vertical quickly and turns routine throws into extra yardage. With the right usage, he can be a productive, high-impact piece at the next level.
If the Raiders want an offense built on physicality and yards after contact, Bernard fits. Pairing him with Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty would give Las Vegas another difficult player to bring down and another weapon to ease the burden on a rookie quarterback.
Round 3: Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech
With the offense largely set, the Raiders must pivot to a defense with problems across the board. They have so many needs on that side of the ball that almost any position would make sense early in the draft.
As always, building through the trenches is the soundest approach, and Texas Tech’s Lee Hunter would add immediate size and strength to the defensive line. Listed at 6-foot-4 and 330 pounds, Hunter is a run-stuffing defensive tackle who can clog lanes with his frame and surprising athleticism.
Hunter flashes a quick first step and can win reps early by shooting gaps and getting into the backfield. He also plays with active hands and shows a developing pass-rush plan, mixing moves to complement his power. When he converts speed to strength, he can collapse the pocket from the interior.
If the Raiders keep Maxx Crosby for 2026, it is time to give him help up front. A legitimate interior presence can change the math for an entire front and raise the ceiling of a unit that needs talent at every level. Hunter is expected to test well at the scouting combine and could go higher than this in April, but he would be strong value here.
*Top Photo: Imagn Images