One obvious objective for Las Vegas Raiders general manager John Spytek will be to address the offensive line regardless of who the next quarterback is. Thankfully, this upcoming NFL draft will provide some intriguing options.
Raiders 3-Round Mock Draft: Rebuilding the offensive line…
Round 1: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Fernando Mendoza is a quarterback prospect with clear strengths, but the concerns are straightforward.
His arm talent is average by NFL standards. Some cross-field throws lose speed before they arrive, and his deep balls can float. Indiana’s offense leaned heavily on RPO concepts, and it did not consistently require him to push the ball beyond 20 yards. That leaves legitimate questions about how he will handle a pro passing game that demands more vertical shots and tighter windows.
Mendoza also takes avoidable sacks. He can hold the ball too long when the smart play is to throw it away and live for the next down. When his first read is covered, his footwork can get rushed and bouncy, disrupting his throwing base and creating pressure.
At around 220 pounds, Mendoza likely needs 10 to 15 pounds of functional strength to hold up over an NFL season. If the Raiders draft him, they are betting on development and infrastructure—protection, a structured offense, and coaching that speeds up his decisions, stabilizes his feet, and expands the downfield game—because the margin is tight.
Round 2: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
Monroe Freeling looks like the kind of tackle scouts draw on a whiteboard before they ever watch a snap: broad frame, good length, natural power and enough initial quickness to get his body in the right place in the run game. When he lands it, he can uproot defenders and widen lanes with force, the kind that changes a play’s math.
The problem is what happens when the picture changes. Freeling can play too upright, which turns balance into a negotiation. He will lunge and overextend, and slippery rushers make him pay for it. In pass protection, he can drift, overset and chase movement—the stutter, the hesitation, and the feint—until his feet are no longer under him and the rep is over. On the move, his ability to latch and finish is more functional than reliable.
That is the Raiders’ question, again: do you draft the body and bet the coaching can sharpen the details?
Freeling is not a finished product but the potential is there. If Las Vegas wants a tackle built to survive NFL power, he fits. If it requires immediate answers against speed and counters, the learning curve is real.
Round 3: Connor Lew, OG/C, Auburn
Connor Lew is a prospect who forces a clear question: can the Raiders live with the current flaws to secure the long-term stability he offers at center?
At his best, he plays like an NFL starter. His hand placement is precise, and his reset ability keeps reps alive after initial contact. He processes quickly and consistently identifies stunts and blitzes before the snap, directing protection for a young line. The production supports the tape. Across 442 pass-blocking snaps as a sophomore, he allowed one sack and nine pressures, a profile that puts him among the SEC’s most efficient pass protectors.
The concerns are consistent. Against 340-pound zero techniques, Lew can lose the leverage war and get walked back. He will lean in protection, opening the door for quick swims. His anchor is improved, but power rushers can still compress the pocket before he resets. He can be late to screens, and his initial hand pattern is predictable—a tell NFL tackles will attack.
If the Raiders draft him, they are betting on elite technique, processing and leadership translating quickly, while strength, timing, and variety catch up.
*Top Photo: Getty Images