The primary question for the Las Vegas Raiders concerning the draft is which position they will prioritize on Day 2 of the event. Let’s try to answer that.
With the No. 1 overall pick all but certain to be Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the real intrigue surrounding the Raiders’ 2026 NFL Draft begins on Day 2, and general manager John Spytek knows it.
Spytek has made clear he is “open to all options” when it comes to moving back and acquiring additional picks on draft day, a strategy he has already demonstrated a willingness to execute. But the deeper question isn’t whether Las Vegas will wheel and deal. It’s which direction the Silver and Black will turn once the second round opens, and the answer is anything but simple.
With only three safeties currently on the roster, Spytek has acknowledged the position is a mathematical priority. “It’s just a math equation right there. We need a few more,” he said. Yet the secondary isn’t the only unit demanding attention. The sense around the league is that the Raiders will select a wide receiver at some point, despite drafting Dont’e Thornton Jr. and Jack Bech a year ago and signing Jalen Nailor in free agency.
Meanwhile, Spytek lives by the philosophy that a team can never have too many offensive linemen, making it a strong possibility that Las Vegas takes both a guard and a tackle, even if it’s in the later rounds.
Secondary depth, pass-catching reinforcements and trench development are all legitimate priorities competing for the same limited real estate on Days 2 and 3. Sorting out which comes first is the question Las Vegas must answer when the draft resumes Friday.
Raiders 3-Round Mock Draft: Getting Fernando Mendoza some help…
Round 1, No. 1: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Fernando Mendoza is the rare quarterback who makes you feel smarter for drafting him and slightly nervous about Sundays.
He’s not Patrick Mahomes. He’s not supposed to be. Mendoza is a metronomic maestro, precise, poised and terrifyingly efficient in the red zone. Thirty-nine touchdowns and zero interceptions inside the 20 since 2024 are no coincidence. This achievement is a result of careful planning and strategy, illustrating precisely the type of quarterback this offense requires.
The catch? He’s got heavy feet, average arm velocity and a flicker of panic when interior pressure arrives, three things Las Vegas offensive linemen will need to treat as a personal responsibility.
Draft him. Protect him. Watch him thrive.
Round 2, No. 36: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
Denzel Boston won’t burn anyone with speed. He doesn’t need to.
Boston is the kind of receiver who makes defensive coordinators quietly miserable. He’s big, physical, technically sound and absolutely ruthless in the red zone. Twenty touchdowns over two seasons and a 76.9% catch rate on contested catches. He turns jump balls into foregone conclusions.
The concern is real, though. NFL corners will test his press release early and often, and his second gear is more of a suggestion than a gear. Scheme will matter.
Round 3, No. 67: Davison Igbinosun, CB, Ohio State
David Igbinosun spent 2024 auditioning for a penalty record and 2025 quietly erasing it.
That kind of self-correction is rare and, frankly, more impressive than any NFL combine number. He cut his coverage flags by two-thirds in a single season, which tells you the bad habit was a choice, not a character flaw.
What you get is a long, physical boundary corner built for Cover 3, someone who jars receivers at the line, carries verticals and makes quarterbacks think twice about his side of the field.
The footwork still needs polish. The upside doesn’t.
*Top Photo: YouTube/Las Vegas Review-Journal