With Oregon quarterback Dante Moore choosing to return to school next season, the 2026 NFL Draft picture at quarterback has narrowed to a one-man race.
That leaves Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza at the top of the board. Fresh off a Heisman Trophy-winning season, Mendoza will try to deliver the first national championship in program history before turning his attention to the NFL, where he is widely projected to go No. 1 overall.
For the Las Vegas Raiders, the straightforward play is to use that pick to solve the game’s most important position. But the No. 1 selection also carries a different kind of value: leverage. If Las Vegas believes the roster needs more support before dropping a rookie quarterback into the fire, trading out becomes a real option.
This class is expected to feature just one first-round quarterback. With multiple teams still hunting for a passer, the Raiders could command a significant return for the right to draft Mendoza.
In this mock, Las Vegas sends the No. 1 overall pick to the New York Jets for picks No. 2, No. 16 and No. 33.
Raiders 3-Round Mock Draft: What if you trade the No. 1 pick?
Round 1, No. 2: Rueben Bain Jr, EDGE, Miami
Rueben Bain has been the tone-setter for a Miami defense that carried the program to its first national championship game appearance since 2002. He is also one of the few truly elite prospects in this draft class.
At 6-foot-3 and 275 pounds, Bain has a throwback build with real power at the point of attack. He can displace blockers and hold up against the run, and he pairs that strength with better-than-expected burst. His get-off at the snap consistently shows up on tape.
He is not without questions. The biggest is arm length. If he measures just over 30 inches, he will fall below many teams’ typical thresholds on the edge, and some evaluators may prefer a move inside.
Betting on outliers is always a risk, but with Bain, the film makes the case. The production and play strength are difficult to ignore, even if the measurables force a projection.
For the Raiders, the fit is clean. Las Vegas needs help across the defense, and pairing Bain with Maxx Crosby would give the unit a legitimate high-end edge tandem, regardless of whether Bain ultimately lines up outside or slides inside on passing downs.
Round 1, No. 16: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
The NFL cycles through trends, but one principle holds: games are still won up front. Teams that control the line of scrimmage usually give themselves the cleanest path to sustainable success.
In this mock, the Raiders lean into that formula by continuing to rebuild a defensive front that has not been good enough. With the pick acquired from the Jets, Las Vegas selects defensive tackle Kayden McDonald, a potential answer for the void left by Christian Wilkins.
McDonald is a power player. Listed at 6-foot-3 and 326 pounds, he consistently drives blockers backward and is difficult to displace in the run game. His size and strength create a firm interior presence, the kind that forces offenses to adjust their run plans.
The pass-rush production is limited—he had three sacks last season—and he is not projected as a true three-down disruptor. Still, he is more athletic than his frame suggests, and that movement ability should translate into occasional pushes as a complementary rusher while he anchors early downs.
Related: The Raiders don’t get better by trading Maxx Crosby
Round 2, No. 33: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
After passing on a quarterback in the first round, Las Vegas addresses the position early in the second by selecting Alabama’s Ty Simpson.
Simpson entered the season with top-five buzz, but his play dipped down the stretch. He was even benched in the Crimson Tide’s lone playoff game. The tape is uneven, and the question of how healthy he was late in the year will follow him through the evaluation process.
At his best, Simpson looks like an NFL starter. He has the arm strength teams look for, and he throws with touch and timing downfield, fitting the ball into tight windows when the picture is clear.
Taking him at the top of Round 2 gives the Raiders a young quarterback with upside without the typical long-term commitment tied to a first-round pick. If Simpson hits, Las Vegas has a starter on a cost-controlled deal. If the late-season version holds, the team can pivot quickly and keep its options open in the 2027 quarterback class.
Round 2, No. 36: Ja’Kobi Lane, WR, USC
The Raiders do not necessarily need a traditional No. 1 receiver with Brock Bowers in the middle of the offense, but they do need a true boundary target. USC’s Ja’Kobi Lane fits the profile. At 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds with exceptional length, he projects as a true “X” receiver.
Lane’s frame is the selling point. He uses it to win downfield and has shown the ability to make contested, highlight-reel catches. Paired with his natural athleticism, the upside is real, including a path to Pro Bowl-level production if the development hits.
The concerns are just as clear. Lane’s route tree is limited, and he does not consistently beat press coverage despite his size advantage. He has also offered little after the catch, which is a notable gap for a player with his tools.
That boom-or-bust profile makes him a bet on traits. For a Raiders offense lacking a true outside mismatch, it is a worthwhile swing. If it clicks, he has a Tee Higgins-style ceiling as a big-bodied, contested-catch finisher on the perimeter.
More: The Raiders shouldn’t crown Klint Kubiak just yet
Round 2, No. 67: D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana
Even without taking Fernando Mendoza, the Raiders still come away with an Indiana Hoosier by selecting cornerback D’Angelo Ponds.
Ponds plays with the edge teams want at the position. He is feisty, confident and competitive, and he sets a tone with his willingness to tackle. That physicality shows up consistently, especially in space.
He is also a strong athlete with a clean fit in zone coverage. Ponds trusts his eyes, anticipates routes and attacks the football, producing plays on the ball despite clear size limitations.
That size is the swing factor. Listed at 5-foot-9 and 170 pounds, he will give up length against bigger receivers, and that matchup stress is likely what keeps him out of the first round.
Still, his projection is straightforward. Ponds profiles as a slot corner who can raise the energy of a secondary that needs talent across the board. In Las Vegas, he would have a real chance to start early, and his play style will remind some fans of Amik Robertson.
*Top Photo: Getty Images