In our latest mock draft scenario, we see the Las Vegas Raiders ship star pass rusher Maxx Crosby just a few hours away on the 10 freeway to the Los Angeles Rams.
Unless you’ve been on the moon, you would know that Crosby’s name has been all over sports media. For the first time, there seems to be a growing sentiment that Crosby could actually end up playing elsewhere next season. He wasn’t included in any decision-making this offseason, unlike in years past—such as his very public endorsement of Antonio Pierce not too long ago. With Klint Kubiak now taking over the coaching reins and the Raiders entering a true rebuild, it would make sense to cash in on Crosby’s value before it declines.
This is where Davante Adams comes in.
Thanks to social media and the Up & Adams show, Raiders fans know how close the perennial Pro Bowl defensive end and All-Pro wideout have remained. As far as an actual trade, it seems most are in agreement that the Raiders would send Crosby to a team close to contention or already there. Hence, why the Rams would be a strong possibility.
Could the Rams’ management consider trading two first-round picks for Crosby, a potentially game-changing move? Let’s examine one plausible scenario.
- Raiders receive: 29th pick, 61st pick, and ’27 1st round pick
- Rams receive: DE Maxx Crosby
Raiders 3-Round Mock Draft: Time to move on?
Round 1, No. 1: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
The Raiders can fall in love with traits, or they can draft translation. Fernando Mendoza’s best pitch isn’t “upside.” It’s staying calm under pressure. He doesn’t speed up his eyes or feet when the pocket gets tight late in the game, on third down. That’s what happens on Sundays.
His arm isn’t a highlight reel. It works in a range with placement. He throws the ball over linebackers, drives it outside the numbers, and keeps receivers in stride. Those are NFL throws, not college gifts.
Las Vegas is the harder question, not Mendoza. Will the Raiders protect him, help him grow, and be patient when the first tough month comes? This is why you hired Kubiak, right?
Round 1, No. 29: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
The Raiders do not need another savior. They need a tackle who lowers the temperature of every snap. Essentially, Mendoza will need as much protection as he can be afforded; that’s why Monroe Freeling looks like that kind of pick.
He left Georgia early, but he did not arrive raw. He played as a true freshman, worked into the lineup, and then took over as a full-time starter in 2025. The growth shows in the details. Pro Football Focus charted nine pressures and three sacks allowed all season, with a third of the pressures coming in the first three games. That is correction, not collapse.
Drafting Freeling is a bet on stability. The question is whether Las Vegas will treat stability like a priority. Kubiak’s staff would have two potential cornerstones to bring up in Mendoza and Freeling, not a bad start to work with.
Round 2, No. 36: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
The Raiders do not need another “hybrid” player who needs work; rather, they need a player that’s ready to take on a starting role in the defensive backfield. They need a safety who controls the middle. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren fits that.
His production is real: 214 tackles, 11 forced fumbles and five interceptions in 48 games. He is big, long and physical. He hits with force and attacks the ball. His length closes throwing lanes down the seam. His angles are clean, and he often arrives on time.
The concern is speed. He is an average athlete and can be stiff in transition. He has dropped interceptions and missed too many tackles. The choice is simple: draft a tone-setter with instincts, or chase range and recovery speed.
Related: Indiana pipeline fuels Raiders rebuild in 3-round mock draft
Round 2, No. 61: D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana
The Raiders keep hunting a quick fix at corner. D’Angelo Ponds looks like the opposite: a steady answer. He followed Curt Cignetti from James Madison to Indiana and became the anchor of a title secondary, winning snaps the hard way—technique, leverage and discipline.
Ponds is sticky in man coverage. He fights through routes without panicking or grabbing. His footwork stays clean, his pad level stays low, and his hips stay engaged through transitions. He understands the sideline and uses it like an extra defender.
He may not be a flashy corner, but he excels at shutting down drives. The primary question remains: will Las Vegas appreciate his contributions?
Round 3, No. 67: Connor Lew, OC, Auburn
The Raiders keep treating the offensive line like a patch kit. Connor Lew is a cleaner fix. Draft him at center and keep Jackson-Powers Johnson at guard, where power matters more than reach.
Lew is built for the job at 6-foot-3, 303. He wins with leverage, angles and athleticism. Lew stays square in pass protection, anchors well enough, and plays assignment-sound football in the run game. He can reach landmarks, recover and reset without panicking.
The tradeoff is force. He is not a mover and he is not a finisher. That is the bet: clean reps over raw displacement. Las Vegas has to decide which one wins longer.
*Top Photo: Ramble Illustration/Getty Images