The Las Vegas Raiders are staring at the most powerful asset in the NFL: the No. 1 overall pick. The obvious play is to spend it on a quarterback and sell hope. The smarter play, depending on their board, is to sell access.
If New York is desperate and Las Vegas is not sold on a true franchise changer in this class, the No. 1 pick turns into leverage, not a selection.
That is where the Giants come in. A rebuilding team does not need one swing. It needs volume, flexibility and time. Multiple first-rounders, premium Day 2 picks and future ammo would give the Raiders real runway. Fix the trenches. Add speed on defense. Build a foundation that can carry a young quarterback when the timeline is right.
Here is what teams rarely say out loud: a rookie passer does not save a roster that cannot protect him, cannot run the ball and cannot get off the field on third down. The Raiders have lived that cycle more than once. Trading down would be a bet on process over panic—building a team that can win with a quarterback, not just because it drafted one.
If the Giants want the headline, the Raiders can take the haul.
- Giants receive: No. 1 pick
- Raiders receive: No. 5 pick, 37th pick, 105th pick, ’27 1st round + 2nd round picks
Raiders 2-Round Mock Draft: Giving the defense a new identity…
Round 1 (No. 5): Rueben Bain Jr., DL, Miami
Rueben Bain Jr. fits the profile of an edge defender the Raiders have prioritized: first-step explosiveness, disruptive intent, and enough high-end flashes to justify a premium projection.
That projection is also the risk. Bain’s sophomore calf injury derailed a full season, and durability matters when teams are asking edge rushers to hold up through 17 games and a heavy workload. His length is good, not elite, which can show up against longer-armed tackles who win first contact and create separation, neutralizing his get-off. The tape also points to areas that must tighten: tackling form that breaks down in space, overpursuit that compromises containment and opens cutback lanes, and a counter rush package that remains inconsistent when his initial move stalls against anchored blockers.
If the Raiders draft Bain, it should be a disciplined bet—on traits, on development, and on a clear plan to reduce the downs where his margin for error is thin.
Round 2 (No. 36): Matayo Uiagalelei, DL, Oregon
Matayo Uiagalelei looks like the kind of defender the Raiders can trust on early downs. He plays with discipline on the edge against stretch runs and zone reads, making ball carriers choose a lane and taking away the easy bounce outside. In the AFC West—where offenses stress the perimeter and move quarterbacks—that discipline is not a bonus. It is a requirement.
The upside is tied to how he moves. A former tight end, Uiagalelei shows rare body control and coordination, bending the corner while staying balanced through contact. He has also shown alignment versatility, working across multiple techniques and fitting different fronts—a trait that translates to modern, multiple defenses.
The evaluation has to be direct. As a pass rusher, he can be one-dimensional, leaning on speed without a reliable counter once the first move stalls. Bigger tackles can swallow him when he plays with his hand down. His tackling can slip into arm attempts instead of square-ups. The Raiders would be drafting a baseline—and betting on development.
Round 2 (No. 37): CJ Allen, CB, Georgia
C.J. Allen is a second-level athlete the Raiders have lacked for long stretches: sideline-to-sideline range, run instincts, and a three-down profile. The film shows a defender who closes space quickly, tracks perimeter runs with urgency, and can show up as a blitzer from angles offenses do not always account for.
The evaluation has to stay balanced. His coverage work is not finished. Man assignments against athletic tight ends remain a stress point, and his zone reactions can arrive a beat late, especially when play-action holds his eyes. He can also get overaggressive, overrunning fits and opening cutback lanes. When asked to rush, he leans on speed more than refined hand use.
For Las Vegas, the case is clear and uncomfortable: Allen can raise the defense’s baseline immediately as a run-and-chase linebacker. Drafting him is a bet that the details—coverage discipline and processing—catch up to the traits.
Thoughts on this monstrous haul, Raider Nation?
*Top Photo: Getty Images