The Las Vegas Raiders entered the 2026 NFL Draft with the No. 1 overall pick and a mandate to turn the page. General manager John Spytek delivered a masterclass, landing a franchise quarterback while trading back smartly to accumulate value and address glaring needs on both sides of the ball.
This year’s class was not just about plugging holes. It was about injecting hope into a franchise that has wandered in the desert too long. Headlining the group is Fernando Mendoza, who leads a blend of elite talent and high-upside depth. While the Raiders still have work to do at wide receiver and along both lines, Spytek’s haul gives them a realistic path to contention within three years. The fan consensus is difficult to argue with: he aced this draft.
A closer look at the Las Vegas Raiders’ 2026 draft class…
R1, No. 1: QB Fernando Mendoza (Indiana)
At 6 foot 5 and 236 pounds, Mendoza is the complete package: a Heisman Trophy winner with elite processing speed, layered accuracy and the leadership intangibles that win locker rooms. He is not a flashy dual-threat, but his arm talent, pocket presence and red-zone efficiency signal franchise QB potential.
What he brings is immediate stability under center, and the Raiders can build the offense around him from Day 1. With the new interior line additions protecting him, his football IQ should elevate the supporting cast around him.
That impact on the franchise’s immediate future is hard to overstate. Mendoza gives the Silver and Black a face-of-the-franchise capable of leading them back to the playoffs as early as 2027. In a weak quarterback class, Spytek’s decision to go all-in at No. 1 was the right call.
R2, No. 38: S Treydan Stukes (Arizona)
Versatility is the name of Stukes’ game. A Big 12 First-Team All-Conference ball hawk with four interceptions and elite speed, he can play single-high safety, nickel or even corner. He brings rangy coverage, physicality in the run game and instant playmaking to a secondary that desperately needed an upgrade. The expectation is immediate impact, as Stukes projects as a Day 1 starter alongside veterans, giving the defense the swagger it lacked last season. In a pass-heavy AFC West, his ability to disrupt underneath routes and take away the deep middle adds valuable schematic flexibility for the defensive coordinator. After trading back, Spytek nailed the value with this selection.
R3, No. 67: EDGE Keyron Crawford (Auburn)
Crawford, who began his career at Arkansas, offers explosive first-step quickness and bend around the edge. Although raw, he flashes dominant pass-rush reps and strong hand usage that give the Raiders much-needed juice off the edge to complement Maxx Crosby. His immediate impact will be developmental in Year 1 as he rotates into the lineup, but he projects to push for a starting role by Year 2. Pairing his timeline with Mendoza’s allows the defense to grow alongside the offense. Crawford represents excellent mid-round value at a position that can single-handedly change games.
R3, No. 91: OG Trey Zuhn III (Texas A&M)
Zuhn is a battle-tested, versatile interior lineman who excels in pass protection with quick feet and a strong anchor. He can play guard or slide to center, bringing reliability and scheme versatility to an offensive line tasked with keeping Mendoza upright.
His immediate impact could be significant. Zuhn competes for a starting spot right away, shoring up the interior and giving the new quarterback confidence in the pocket. Spytek’s decision to trade back and grab this extra third-round pick was a shrewd one, as Zuhn stabilizes the line without the cost of overpaying in free agency.
R4, No. 101: CB Jermod McCoy (Tennessee)
McCoy was a first-round talent who slid due to medical concerns. Still, he landed in Las Vegas with a chance to prove his doubters wrong. Long, physical and instinctive, he brings press-man tenacity and ball skills to a cornerback room currently in flux.
If healthy, McCoy provides high-upside depth and special teams help, with starter potential as early as Week 1. In a division full of elite receivers, his physicality at the line of scrimmage makes him a natural fit for the Raiders’ defensive scheme.
R4, No. 122: RB Mike Washington Jr. (Arkansas)
Explosive does not begin to describe Washington. A 6-foot-1, 223-pound back with a perfect 10.00 Relative Athletic Score, he is a home-run threat who can also catch and block. He brings speed, vision and thunder-and-lightning potential alongside Ashton Jeanty. His immediate impact is electric, rotating in as a change-of-pace weapon and special teams contributor while adding the big-play ability the Raiders have sorely missed. In Washington, Spytek found a steal capable of contributing on all three downs right away.
Related: Grading every 2026 draft pick made by the Raiders
R5, No. 150: S Dalton Johnson (Arizona)
Another Arizona product, Johnson is a fast (4.41 40-yard dash) playmaking zone safety who recorded four interceptions during a breakout senior season. He brings toughness, football IQ, and special teams versatility to the roster. His immediate impact will come through depth and competition, pushing Stukes for playing time while providing insurance and a special teams spark. Selecting two safeties from the same productive program signals smart, deliberate scouting.
R5, No. 175: CB Hezekiah Masses (California)
Masses, a one-year starter at Cal, offers length, instincts, and strong press coverage skills. He adds another athletic component to the secondary, making it four defensive backs selected by the Raiders in their last seven picks. His immediate contributions will likely be in rotational depth and special teams, with the potential for a starting role if necessary. This kind of depth helps mitigate the injuries that have impacted past seasons.
R6, No. 195: WR Malik Benson (Oregon)
Speed kills and Benson has it in spades. A big-play threat who showed complete receiver traits at Oregon, he brings explosive separation and yards-after-catch ability to a receiving corps still searching for consistent weapons. Immediate future? He contributes as a deep threat and return specialist right away, stretching defenses for Mendoza. Late-round value at a position of need.
R7, No. 229: DT Brandon Cleveland (NC State)
Cleveland is a stout, athletic nose tackle with heavy hands, run-stopping prowess and subtle pass-rush moves. He brings interior depth and rotational disruption. His immediate impact is limited to special teams and spot duty, but he projects as a reliable backup who keeps starters fresh. He is a perfect seventh-round dart throw.
Spytek’s grade? An emphatic A. He traded back and forward intelligently, landed the consensus QB1, fortified the secondary with four picks, added offensive line and skill-position help, and still found value late. The class has star power in Mendoza, strong scheme fits, and promising depth. Holes remain, as another wide receiver or offensive lineman would help, but the foundation is firmly in place. Raider Nation finally has legitimate hope. Spytek cooked in the draft and has set the table for what the Raiders can become, but it remains up to the players and coaches to prove him right.
As the Mendoza era begins, Raider Nation feels something it has not felt in quite some time: a clear direction. The 2026 season promises to be an exciting first chapter of what is to come.
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*Top Photo: Associated Press/Candice Ward