With the bulk of free agency over, the Las Vegas Raiders‘ roster looks markedly different than it did a few months ago. Tyler Linderbaum and Nakobe Dean headline the additions as high-priced signings at positions of need, while Kwity Paye and Eric Stokes provide quality depth as solid starters. Even so, the team still has plenty of holes left to fill.
That’s where the NFL Draft comes in. The Raiders hold 10 selections to continue remaking their roster—though they no longer have two first-round picks following the rescinded Maxx Crosby trade. While the first pick figures to be a foregone conclusion with Fernando Mendoza all but certain to be the selection, Las Vegas still has plenty of flexibility in how it approaches the remaining nine picks.
Raiders 7-Round Mock Draft: Addressing biggest remaining needs…
Round 1, Pick One: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
While nothing is guaranteed in the NFL Draft, the Raiders selecting Mendoza is about as close to a sure thing as it gets. In fact, the organization has already begun setting the table for the Indiana passer to take the reins.
The moves have come in rapid succession. First, the Raiders added former Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum to fortify the offensive line in front of Mendoza. Then they signed wide receiver Jalen Nailor in free agency to give him a weapon from the slot. Most tellingly, Vegas traded last year’s starter, Geno Smith, without bringing in a veteran replacement—a strong signal that the plan is for Mendoza to start from Day 1.
In a short amount of time, Las Vegas has quietly built a favorable environment for a young quarterback to grow and develop. The offensive line has taken significant strides, the skill positions feature exciting young playmakers, and the sideline is led by a coach many consider one of the NFL’s brightest offensive minds. Raider Nation has plenty of reasons to be excited.
Round 2, Pick 36: Christen Miller, DT, Georgia
One of the biggest themes of the Raiders’ free agency this year has been a reliance on former Georgia Bulldogs, with Eric Stokes, Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean all having played their college ball in Athens. So why not continue that pipeline in the draft?
Christen Miller would be a natural fit. A powerful, heavy-handed interior player, Miller anchored the middle of Georgia’s defense last season as the Bulldogs’ nose tackle. While he remains a work in progress as a pass rusher, Miller makes his living as a run stopper. At 6-foot-4 and 321 pounds with 33-inch arms, he is a chore to move without a double team.
That physicality is exactly what Las Vegas has been missing. A threat to disrupt the run game whenever left one-on-one, Miller brings a skill set the Raiders have lacked on the interior for quite some time. The Silver and Black have not had a true presence up the middle in years, and Miller could change that in a hurry.
Round 3, Pick 67: Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State
With Mendoza selected in round one, the focus shifts to building the offense around him and giving him every opportunity to succeed. The Raiders already have a strong foundation with Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty among the best young skill players in the league, but the wide receiver room could still use some work.
Ted Hurst would go a long way toward addressing that need. At 6-foot-4 and 206 pounds with high-end route-running ability, Hurst profiles as a true “X” receiver who can also threaten defenses vertically with his 4.42 speed.
He is not without flaws. His hands can be inconsistent, and he faces a significant jump in competition from the Sun Belt to the NFL. Even so, Hurst would complement the team’s existing receivers in Jalen Nailor and Jack Bech quite well, giving Las Vegas a more complete and versatile wideout group.
Related: Fernando Mendoza will need a true WR1, right?
Round 4, Pick 102: Isaiah World, OT, Oregon
Building a complete offense around Fernando Mendoza remains the priority, and that mission extends to the offensive line.
The group is already much improved from a season ago, bolstered by the return of key players from injury and the addition of Tyler Linderbaum. Drafting Isaiah World from Oregon would add another layer of competition, particularly at right tackle, where D.J. Glaze struggled a season ago.
At 6-foot-8, World represents an intriguing developmental prospect for a position group that already includes Charles Grant, another project tackle from last year’s draft class. With three young options now competing for the starting job, the Raiders will have plenty of opportunities to find the right answer to keep Mendoza clean in the pocket.
Round 4, Pick 117: Will Lee III, CB, Texas A&M
Even with the re-signing of Eric Stokes and the addition of Taron Johnson via trade, the Raiders’ cornerback room still lacks depth. When building depth through the draft, the smart approach is often to identify a player with one standout trait and develop the rest over time.
Will Lee III fits that mold. A physical boundary corner who uses his length and height to disrupt routes early in their development, Lee’s best trait is his man coverage ability. He tends to win the rep early or not at all, which speaks to both his aggressiveness and his current limitations. With a 4.50 40-yard dash, he sits on the slower end of the cornerback spectrum and can be exposed by elite speed.
That said, plenty of corners without burner speed have developed into quality starters in the NFL. The Raiders would not need Lee to contribute immediately, giving the coaching staff time to round out his game. It is also worth noting that general manager John Spytek helped develop a similar player in Carlton Davis during his time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, suggesting he knows exactly what to do with this type of prospect.
Round 4, Pick 134: Jakobe Thomas, DB, Miami
The Raiders turn their attention to the back end of the defense with the selection of Miami safety Jakobe Thomas, one of the most impactful transfers of the college football season. Thomas was part of a defensive unit that helped change the culture for the Hurricanes and carried them to a National Championship appearance.
As a prospect, Thomas’s greatest asset may not show up in a box score. He is a constant communicator on the field who plays with a swagger that is difficult to quantify but clearly elevates the players around him. His ability as a tackler and his playmaking skills in the air are also legitimate contributions that any defense would welcome.
He is available in the fourth round for a reason, however. Thomas struggles in deep zones and his aggressive nature can leave him susceptible to receivers getting behind him, making him better suited for short- to mid-range coverage areas. It is a real limitation, particularly given how much premium defenses place on range at the safety position.
Even so, the Raiders may not have the luxury of being selective. With safety ranking among the weakest positions on the roster, Thomas could realistically push for a starting role sooner rather than later.
More: Maxx Crosby is no longer the Raiders’ priority for the future
Round 5, Pick 175: Aiden Fisher, LB, Miami
As noted earlier, the Raiders made it a priority to fortify the linebacker position in free agency through the additions of Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker. The depth of the group still leaves something to be desired, however, which is what prompted the selection of Indiana’s Aiden Fisher.
Fisher brings a national championship pedigree to the NFL along with a reputation for leadership and football intelligence. He diagnoses plays quickly and is frequently seen making pre-snap adjustments, checking into different calls and getting his teammates aligned before the ball is snapped.
The athleticism concerns are real, though. Fisher is a below-average mover who struggles in coverage and has limited range, which will likely cap his role at the NFL level as a core special teamer and reliable reserve linebacker. For a team with Dean and Walker ahead of him on the depth chart, that may be exactly the kind of complementary piece the Raiders need.
Round 6, Pick 182: Lorenzo Styles Jr., DB, Ohio State
On Day 3 of the draft, teams often prioritize players with a standout physical trait who can also contribute on special teams. Ohio State safety Lorenzo Styles fits that profile perfectly.
Styles’ calling card is elite athleticism, a trait he shares with his brother Sonny. Unlike Sonny, who figures to be a top-10 pick, Lorenzo is still a work in progress as he transitions from wide receiver to safety. The football instincts and positional nuance that come naturally to experienced safeties are still developing.
That makes him a classic Day 3 lottery ticket. If the Raiders can get consistent special teams contributions out of Styles while taking their time developing him at safety, they would be getting exactly the kind of upside play that rarely surfaces in the sixth round.
Round 6, Pick 185: Kaelon Black, RB, Indiana
After selecting Ashton Jeanty in the first round last season, the Raiders added one of the NFL’s most dynamic young playmakers to their backfield. The depth and overall talent behind him, however, still leave room for improvement.
Kaelon Black would help address both concerns. Another member of the national championship-winning Indiana Hoosiers, Black split carries last season but still flashed NFL-caliber talent as a hard-nosed runner with reliable pass protection skills.
On the Raiders, Black would slot in as Jeanty’s primary backup, a complementary back capable of contributing on roughly three to five carries per game while also holding his own in passing situations.
Round 7, Pick 219: Anez Cooper, OG, Miami
With one pick remaining, the Raiders close out the draft by adding more depth to the offensive line while continuing to draw from the national championship pipeline.
At Miami, Anez Cooper was known as a tone-setting interior lineman who helped pave the way for a dominant Hurricanes running game. His athleticism may not project well to the NFL level, but his mentality and physicality are exactly the kind of traits a rebuilding program looks to cultivate from the bottom of a roster.
 *Top Photo: Laney Martin Photography