🏈 Raiders NFL Draft Predictions 2026: Expert Mock Draft Picks, Team Needs, Best Fits & More
The Las Vegas Raiders hold the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and it's an open secret that they'll take Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy winner who led the most improbable title run in college football history.
As part of our NFL draft predictions for every team, we break down the Raiders' full draft picks, biggest team needs, ideal prospect fits, mock draft projections, and our prediction for which player Las Vegas will draft in the first round, which begins tonight at 8 p.m. ET live on ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network.
📊 Raiders draft picks 2026
See where the Raiders rank by the latest Super Bowl odds for every team.
| Round | Pick(s) |
|---|---|
| 1 | No. 1 |
| 2 | No. 36 |
| 3 | No. 67 |
| 4 | No. 102, 117, 134 |
| 5 | No. 175 |
| 6 | No. 185, 208 |
| 7 | No. 219 |
🆘 Raiders team needs entering draft
We break down every team's projected NFL win totals with our best Over/Under picks by division.
- Team needs: QB, WR, OL, DL, CB
- Key additions: Kirk Cousins (QB), Tyler Linderbaum (C), Kwity Paye (EDGE), Nakobe Dean (LB), Taron Johnson (CB)
- Key departures: Geno Smith (QB, Jets via trade), Tyler Lockett (WR), Zamir White (RB), Quay Walker (LB), Daniel Carlson (K)
After years of quarterback instability, the Raiders are about to get their answer with the first overall pick. But Mendoza needs help around him - the receiving corps is thin after losing Lockett this offseason, and the offensive line got a massive boost with Linderbaum but still has work to do after a disastrous 2025. The Raiders' defense needs to keep adding pieces up front after ranking 29th in run defense last season.
🏈 Raiders draft prospect fits
I asked NFL draft expert Rob Paul to pick the Raiders' best prospect fit in a dream scenario, their safest pick, and their best upside pick tonight:
| Pick type | No. 1 pick | Grade | Paul's take |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🌟 Dream pick | Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana | 7.35 | This selection has been written in stone for months, and nothing has changed, with Mendoza being the only QB in the class worth a first-round pick after leading Indiana to a championship and winning the Heisman behind his efficiency from the pocket |
| 🛡️ Safe pick | Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana | 7.35 | — |
| 🚀 Upside pick | Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana | 7.35 | — |
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➡️ Makai Lemon draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
📝 Raiders mock draft consensus picks
I went through the final mock drafts from 10 top experts across the industry and gathered their NFL mock draft consensus picks for the Las Vegas Raiders' first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Here's who they expect Las to draft:
| Expert | Pick |
|---|---|
| Mel Kiper (ESPN) | Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana (No. 1) |
| Peter Schrager (ESPN) | Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana (No. 1) |
| Daniel Jeremiah (NFL.com) | Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana (No. 1) |
| Lance Zierlein (NFL.com) | Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana (No. 1) |
| Todd McShay (The Ringer) | Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana (No. 1) |
| Dane Brugler (The Athletic) | Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana (No. 1) |
| Mike Renner (CBS Sports) | Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana (No. 1) |
| Tice & McDonald (Yahoo) | Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana (No. 1) |
| Albert Breer (Sports Illustrated) | Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana (No. 1) |
| Rob Paul (Sportsbook Review) | Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana (No. 1) |
🎯 Raiders first position drafted
Prediction market via Kalshi. You can use our Kalshi promo code for a $10 bonus by signing up today. Market subject to change.
This one isn't a mystery. The Raiders need a franchise quarterback and Fernando Mendoza is the consensus No. 1 pick across all 10 mock drafts we surveyed - the only unanimous selection in the entire first round. You can technically still buy shares in this market but it's effectively a wrap: Mendoza is the pick.
I broke down the latest NFL draft position odds for all 32 teams ahead of the first round.
🔮 Raiders draft prediction 2026
See Rob Paul's expert NFL mock draft for projections and analysis of all 32 first-round picks.
Paul's pick at No. 1: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
- Pro comparison: Carson Palmer
- Measurables: 6'5" | 236 lbs | 22 years old | RAS: N/A
What more needs to be said about Mendoza? He's the Heisman winner and just led the Hoosiers to the most improbable national championship win in college football history while ranking No. 1 nationally in QBR (90.3) and No. 5 in the Power Four in adjusted completion rate (79%). The Indiana star is the only QB worthy of going in the first round and has the mental makeup that both Tom Brady and Klint Kubiak will love.
🏈 NFL draft predictions by team
See the live NFL draft odds for the top picks from the best NFL betting sites.
Ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, I broke down every team's full draft capital, their biggest needs and ideal prospect fits, the latest mock draft consensus from industry experts, and our draft prediction for their first pick this week:
AFC East: Bills | Dolphins | Jets | Patriots
AFC North: Bengals | Browns | Ravens | Steelers
AFC South: Colts | Jaguars | Texans | Titans
AFC West: Broncos | Chargers | Chiefs | Raiders
NFC East: Commanders | Cowboys | Eagles | Giants
NFC North: Bears | Lions | Packers | Vikings
NFC South: Buccaneers | Falcons | Panthers | Saints
NFC West: 49ers | Cardinals | Rams | Seahawks
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