This isn’t breaking news, but Maxx Crosby is a formidable force. Now, picture having Dexter Lawrence lined up alongside him. Our most recent scenario outlines the Las Vegas Raiders‘ most daunting draft possibility.
There are going to be some talented interior defensive linemen available at this year’s NFL draft. However, acquiring a three-time Pro Bowler to fill such a gaping need isn’t so far-fetched. General manager John Spytek has made it clear he intends to accelerate this current rebuild as much as possible. He’s already front-loaded the front seven with a bevy of new contributors. Plugging in Lawrence just makes sense on so many levels. The question is, what will the price tag be?
The New York Giants are reportedly considering offers, so if you’re Spytek, now is the time to act decisively. That’s the perspective we’re taking here at the Ramble. Let’s take a possible mock draft scenario where this comes to fruition—what else? Why would you still be reading all of this?
Trade Alert!
- Raiders receive: DT Dexter Lawrence
- Giants receive: Rd. 4 102nd pick, ’27 2nd round pick
Raiders steal the spotlight on Day 2 of the NFL Draft
Round 1, No. 1: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
The case for Fernando Mendoza at No. 1 overall begins and ends with process. His pre-snap identification of coverage shells, combined with a delivery stroke that is both mechanically sound and relentlessly repeatable, gives Las Vegas a quarterback who can operate efficiently from Day 1 in Klint Kubiak’s system.
The ball placement data reinforces the film. Six interceptions on 379 attempts in 2025 reflects a player who has learned to protect possession under pressure, a non-negotiable trait for a franchise quarterback.
But Spytek’s evaluation would be incomplete without acknowledging the pressure problem. A pressure-to-sack rate that climbed to 27.7 percent over his final seven games mirrors his career rate, suggesting the improvement may be more situational than structural. His tendency to drop his eyes when a rusher flashes is not something that gets coached away overnight.
The Ohio State performance in the Big Ten championship game offers the most honest preview of his ceiling. He absorbed punishment, stayed unflappable and delivered when it mattered most. The foundation is legitimate, the development curve is real, and Spytek is betting both are worth the first overall pick.
Round 2, No. 36: Emmanuel Pregnon, OG, Oregon
The case for Emmanuel Pregnon inside the top 50 is straightforward. He is a 314-pound mauler with 11-inch hands, rare grip strength and the leg drive to reset the line of scrimmage on contact. Fifty-one starts across Wyoming, USC and Oregon in multiple schemes tell you this is not a developmental project. Pregnon is a plug-and-play starter.
His pass protection numbers reinforce the film. Zero sacks, one hit and three pressures allowed in 2025 are the kinds of production that translate directly to an NFL offensive line room. He anchors well, detects twists and blitz development quickly, and his length allows him to control the rep even when skilled rushers try to work around him.
But Spytek’s evaluation cannot ignore the limitations. At 24, Pregnon enters the league as one of the older offensive line prospects in this class, which compresses his developmental runway. His guard-only profile offers Las Vegas little schematic flexibility, and twitchy interior rushers who can beat him to the first step will expose the balance issues that surface on his tape. He is a sound, reliable starter. The Raiders simply need to be clear-eyed about what he is and, just as importantly, what he is not.
Round 3, No. 67: Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia
The case for Zachariah Branch rests on one undeniable truth: he is a different kind of weapon. Roughly 80 percent of his career receiving yards came after the catch, and that number is not a product of scheme. It is a product of vision, acceleration and the rare ability to process pursuit angles at full speed. Defenders do not just miss Branch. He makes them miss.
The versatility amplifies the value. Branch lines up in the slot, out of bunch sets, in stacked alignments and out of the backfield with equal comfort, giving Kirk Cousins and Kubiak a chess piece that defenses cannot bracket with a single coverage call. Two return touchdowns add another dimension.
The frame will draw skepticism, and fairly so. But Branch is tougher than he looks, runs through arm tackles and consistently finishes plays. Spytek is not drafting a gadget player. He is drafting a problem defenses have not solved yet.
*Top Photo: Ramble Illustration/Getty Images