🏈 Raiders NFL Draft Predictions 2026: Mock Draft Picks, Best Prospect Fits, Team Needs & 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 Thursday 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 for Thursday:
| 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 | — |
More scouting reports & player profiles
➡️ Arvell Reese draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
➡️ Jeremiyah Love draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
➡️ Carnell Tate draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
➡️ Jordyn Tyson draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
📝 Raiders mock draft consensus picks
I went through the latest mock drafts from other top experts across the industry and gathered their predictions for the Raiders' first pick in the 2026 NFL draft. Here's who they expect Las Vegas to draft at No. 1:
| Source | Pick |
|---|---|
| Mel Kiper (ESPN) | Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana |
| Chad Reuter (NFL.com) | Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana |
| Mike Renner (CBS) | Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana |
| Todd McShay (The Ringer) | Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana |
| Dane Brugler (The Athletic) | Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana |
| Charles McDonald (Yahoo) | Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana |
There's nothing to debate here. All six expert mock drafts we surveyed have the Raiders selecting Mendoza first overall, and Paul agrees. The Heisman winner has been the consensus No. 1 pick since the fall, and the only question left is what Las Vegas does with the rest of its draft to build around him.
🔮 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
This pick has been set in stone for months. Mendoza just led Indiana to the most improbable championship in college football history and won the Heisman Trophy along the way. He's far and away the best QB prospect in the class, thanks to the anticipation and ball placement he throws with from the pocket, which helped him finish No. 3 in college football in QBR (88.4). Mendoza has all the tools to be a top-12 QB in the NFL and fits well in Las Vegas head coach Klint Kubiak's offense.
🏈 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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