A focused 3-round Las Vegas Raiders mock draft built to maximize Maxx Crosby’s prime, detailing how Rob Leonard can take off in Year 1 as the new defensive coordinator with several new impact defenders and immediate contributors.
Raiders general manager John Spytek continued his draft-day wheeling and dealing in our latest mock scenario. He traded back into the second round by sending the No. 67 overall pick to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for the 47th overall selection. Spytek had to throw in a sweetener to get it done—this time it was a third-round pick in 2027.
The Raiders must take advantage of the fact that Crosby will remain with the team after the failed trade attempt by the Baltimore Ravens. With the abundance of game-ready defenders available in the second round this year, giving up some small-sized draft capital to take a big swing makes sense. Raider Nation shouldn’t be too shocked; Spytek has been aggressive all offseason and there’s no reason to think he won’t do the same on draft day. Let’s take a look, shall we?
Raiders receive: 47th Pick
Colts receive: 67th Pick, ’27 3rd Round Pick
Raiders 3-Round Mock Draft: GM John Spytek trades back into Round 2
Round 1, No. 1: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Fernando Mendoza is on a collision course with the No. 1 overall pick, and the Raiders’ reported top-30 visit only hardens what the draft landscape has telegraphed for months.
The case for him is real. Mendoza’s 2025 season demonstrated meaningful growth in ball security, and his Big Ten championship performance against Ohio State stands as the single best individual game any quarterback prospect played all year. He absorbed punishment, stayed composed and delivered throws that justified every bit of the top-of-the-board conversation.
The weaknesses, however, deserve equal weight. When pass rushers get into the backfield quickly, Mendoza panics, his eyes drop and his throws suffer. That problem showed up in the numbers last season, and it got worse as the year went on rather than better. NFL defenses will find that tendency fast and attack it often.
The Raiders can help him grow out of it. A sturdy offensive line that keeps defenders off him, combined with a smart play-caller who gets the ball out quickly, can buy Mendoza the time he needs to develop. The talent and composure are clearly there. But how well Las Vegas builds around him will ultimately matter just as much as the pick itself.
Round 2, No. 36: Lee Hunter, DL, Texas Tech
Lee Hunter’s limitations are not subtle, and they matter more as the game speeds up.
The most pressing concern is what happens when fatigue arrives. Hunter gets tall, loses pad level and allows offensive linemen to work underneath him, which neutralizes the size and length that make him functional in the first place. It is a correctable habit, but one that has persisted on tape and suggests conditioning and technique reinforce each other for him in ways that require monitoring.
His pass rush profile compounds the concern. Hunter operates with one move, a bull rush with no counters and no hand variety, giving offensive linemen a clean blueprint to neutralize him on obvious passing downs. Combined with stiff hips, limited bend and the lateral quickness deficits that leave him exposed against line games and twist packages, his role in sub-packages is essentially written for him before he sets foot on an NFL field.
Effort on plays away from his gap is also a documented issue, not an occasional lapse. That kind of selective engagement raises questions about motor and competitive consistency that scheme alone cannot fix.
The Raiders, however, offer a reasonable landing spot. Las Vegas will theoretically run a physical, run-first defensive identity that prioritizes early-down dominance up front, which aligns directly with Hunter’s functional ceiling. A structured snap count rotation would protect him from the fatigue-driven breakdowns that expose his technique, and a coaching staff focused on trench development could address his single-move pass rush before opponents fully exploit it.
Hunter can serve as a valuable early-down player in Las Vegas, and with appropriate coaching, he has the potential to be a formidable presence alongside Crosby.
Round 2, No. 47: Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
Chris Johnson arrives at the next level as a technically refined cornerback whose game is built on process, not reactivity.
His pre-snap diagnostic ability is his most underrated trait. Johnson reads route concepts and quarterback eyes before committing, allowing him to attack throws with conviction rather than hope. That mental processing, paired with fluid hip transitions and disciplined footwork, means he rarely has to compensate athletically for a poor decision. He simply doesn’t make many.
The 2025 tape is emphatic and the numbers back it up. All four interceptions came in zone coverage, where quarterbacks posted a 20.6 passer rating targeting his area, a number that demands attention. He is not a passive zone defender waiting for gifts. He attacks the catch point with intent, converting at a rate most corners don’t attempt.
Related: No. 98 flew to Baltimore but the deal was already dead
His NFL Combine metrics, a 4.40 forty, a 38-inch vertical and 10-6 broad jump, removed the last credible argument against him. Size remains the one reasonable caveat, as big receivers can challenge him at the high point, though it hasn’t proven exploitative on tape.
Versatility seals the evaluation. Johnson has logged meaningful reps at boundary, slot and box, and that schematic flexibility isn’t a footnote for a coverage-starved defense. It’s the trait that will accelerate his path to a starting role.
*Top Photo: Ramble Illustration/Getty Images