The Las Vegas Raiders headline this year’s 2026 NFL Draft with the No. 1 overall pick, where the consensus among pretty much everyone is that they’ll draft Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
“I was here in Berkeley, Oakland, the Raiders fans are some of the best fans in all the NFL,” Mendoza said. “They’re diehard, they’re loyal, and they really go all in for their team.”
As far as the rest of the draft plays out, general manager John Spytek talked about his thought process during the team’s pre-draft press conference.
“I think it starts with, are we going to make the pick? And if there’s a player that stands out that we feel it’s not worth losing, it’s not worth even picking up the phone, then we’ll just make the pick. But if it’s a player that we’re not as excited about, or there’s a group of players that we would love to pick from, and we can get value for that, then certainly open to listening to that.”
That said, here’s a 3-round mock draft that nets the Raiders some huge return before the start of the 2026 NFL season.
Round 1, Pick 1: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
GettyFernando Mendoza #15 of the Indiana Hoosiers looks on after defeating the Miami Hurricanes 27-21 in the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship.
No surprises here. Mendoza is the clear-cut No. 1 quarterback prospect in this year’s class, and will provide a spark of hope the Raiders have been searching for at the quarterback position.
“Mendoza will need to prove himself with more full-field reads in the NFL, but his intuition, throwing accuracy and play confidence are superpowers and will smooth his transition to the next level,” Dane Brugler of The Athletic wrote.
Round 2, Pick 60 (Via CHI): Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
GettyGarrett Nussmeier #13 of the LSU Tigers is striped of the ball by Caleb Banks #88 of the Florida Gators.
Raiders find themselves in one of those situations Spytek mentioned where there are “a group of players” he’ll be comfortable drafting, but finds a suitor who wants to trade up to pick 36.
Las Vegas nets picks 60 and 89 from the Chicago Bears, with GM Ryan Poles being content making the trade up with Chicago still having pick 57 in the second round.
The Raiders find a steal in Caleb Banks, who could fall due to undergoing surgery to repair the fourth metatarsal in his foot. Banks is one of the top defensive tackles in this year’s draft class, and Las Vegas hosted Banks on a pre-draft visit on April 15th.
Adding him in the middle of the defensive line would be a huge (literally, he’s 6’6″ 327-lbs) addition for Las Vegas.
Round 3, Pick 67: Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State
GettyTed Hurst of the Georgia State Panthers participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine.
Another prospect the Raiders met with, Ted Hurst provides major upside to the wide receiver room.
6’4″, 206 pounds with an impressive 9.90 Relative Athletic Score (RAS), Hurst finished the 2025 season with 71 catches for 1,004 yards and six touchdowns.
“The first player in school history to make Bruce Feldman’s ‘Freaks List,’ Hurst is explosive on a vertical plane and sustains his speed to keep coverage from making up ground — his 34 catches of 20-plus yards over the past two seasons ranked No. 1 in the FBS,” Brugler wrote. “He has impressive sink and balance for a high-cut route runner, although his route cadence and versatility are still developing. He needs to cut down on the drops but extends his long arms to create catching windows (high success rate on fades).”
Round 3, Pick 89 (Via CHI): Bud Clark, S, TCU
GettyBud Clark of the Texas Christian Horned Frogs speaks to the media during the 2026 NFL Draft Combine.
If there’s one position the Raiders are sure to draft this year, it’s safety.
“It’s something we’ve got to attack, and I’m glad the class looks the way it does,” Spytek said regarding the safety class. With depth being a strength, the Raiders hold off until the third round and select Bud Clark.
“In both coverage and run support, Clark moves with athletic twitch to get where he is going in a hurry,” Brugler wrote. “He understands route concepts and flows fast to wherever his instincts lead him. When the ball is in the air, he locates it and flashes the body control to make plays. His energy shows as a run defender, as well, although lackluster finishing strength will be more noticeable versus NFL ball carriers.”
Raiders 3-Round Mock Draft Nets Las Vegas Great Value Before NFL Season