Las Vegas Raiders' 2026 NFL draft picks: Full list, analysis
HENDERSON, Nev. -- The 2026 NFL draftwrapped up on Saturday after three days in Pittsburgh.
TheLas Vegas Raiderskicked things off Thursday night when they selected quarterback Fernando Mendozawith the No. 1 pick.
Here's a look at the Raiders' selections and what you need to know about them:
Analysis of every pick | Updated depth chart
Round 1, No. 1 overall:Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
My take: Mendoza joining the Raiders felt like a foregone conclusion after he ledIndianato a national championship victory overMiami. He has the size and frame at6-foot-5, 225 pounds to be an NFL quarterback. He is accurate and is a good decision-maker, which are two traits that Raiders coach Klint Kubiak wants from a quarterback. For years, the Raiders have struggled to find a long-term answer at quarterback. Mendoza has the potential to solve this issue.
Key stat: Mendoza was stellar in the red zone for the Hoosiers in 2025, throwing 27 touchdowns and no interceptions. He also completed 73% of his passes -- the third-highest rate in the FBS.
Ties to the team to know: Mendoza will be playing for minority owner Tom Brady, whom he has idolized since he started playing football. Mendoza said on "The Rich Eisen Show" that it would mean the world to play for Brady. The formerNew England Patriotsquarterback met with Mendoza at the facility on April 7 and is expected to be a mentor for the reigning Heisman Trophy winner.
Round 2, No. 38: Treydan Stukes, S, Arizona
My take: In a deal with the Texans, the Raiders traded back to No. 38 and drafted Stukes, who fills a major need at safety. Stukes can play multiple spots, he took 363 snaps at slot cornerback and 161 at safety last season. He can make plays on the ball, totaling seven interceptions and 21 pass breakups in 55 career games.
Will he start as a rookie?The Raiders entered the draft with only three safeties on the roster. With that said, Stukes comes to Las Vegas with a strong opportunity to play a meaningful role in the secondary immediately. In addition to his playmaking ability, Stukes has tremendous acceleration and closing speed, which Las Vegas needs in the back end of the field. Las Vegas can line him up as a deep safety or slide him to nickel.
Round 3, No. 67:Keyron Crawford, Edge, Auburn
My take:This pick is a bit surprising. The Raiders needed help at defensive tackle, cornerback, wide receiver and offensive line. But instead they took Crawford, despite signing Kwity Paye and bringing back Malcolm Koonce. Crawford will be a solid player in the Raiders' edge rusher rotation. He played his first two seasons at Arkansas State before transferring to Auburn. Crawford's numbers improved from Year 1 to Year 2 with the Tigers. After he totaled 23 pressures and no sacks in 2024, Crawford collected 36 pressures and five sacks last season.
A team can never have enough edge rushers. But the Raiders could've used this pick to address more pressing needs.
Is this pick for depth or does it fill a hole? For now, this pick is for depth. But Crawford has the potential to develop into a starter down the road. Koonce is playing on a one-year deal. Meanwhile, the Raiders have yet to pick up Tyree Wilson's fifth-year option of $14.5 million, meaning he's expected to hit free agency in 2027. It's also worth noting that Maxx Crosby could be the subject of trade talks during the deadline.
Round 3, No. 91: Trey Zuhn III, C, Texas A&M
My take: Zuhn comes to Las Vegas with experience at multiple positions on the offensive line. He played 3,021 career snaps at left tackle and 124 at center -- all coming in 2025. He was named 2025 First-Team All-SEC and shared the SEC's Jacobs Blocking Trophy (top blocker in the conference) with Alabama's Kadyn Proctor. The Raiders announced him as a guard, a position best-suited for him in the NFL. Las Vegas already has starters in center Tyler Linderbaum, left tackle Kolton Miller and right guard Jackson Powers-Johnson. Zuhn could compete with Caleb Rogers and Spencer Burford for the left guard spot. Still, he provides solid depth on the offensive line.
Key stat: Zuhn decreased his pressure rate over the course of his college career. He went from having a pressure rate of 6% in 2022 to 2.2% in 2025 -- fourth best among left tackles in the SEC. He also allowed just 12 sacks in 1,702 career pass blocking snaps.
Round 4, No. 101:Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
My take: The Raiders sent the 102nd pick and a 2027 seventh-round choice to the Bills to move up and select McCoy, who could turn into one of the draft's biggest steals. McCoy is a first-round talent and was viewed as a potential top 10 pick, but concerns with his knee led to him slipping to Day 3 of the draft.
McCoy tore an ACL in January of 2025, requiring him to have surgery and miss his final college football season. But his performance in 2024 for the Volunteers showed why he could be an elite cornerback at the next level. He was named first-team All-SEC at Tennessee after recording four interceptions and nine pass break-ups.
Even though Las Vegas brought backEric Stokes and drafted Darien Porterlast year, the Raiders didn't have a ton of depth at cornerback. If McCoy pans out, he will be a starter on the outside for years to come.
Cornerback was a significant need entering the draft and Las Vegas addressed it by taking the best overall player in Day 3.
Round 4,No. 122:Mike Washington Jr., RB, Arkansas
My take: Washington said he's excited to form a one-two punch with running back Ashton Jeanty. Adding another player in the backfield has been one of Kubiak's priorities this offseason. Washington, one of the top running back prospects in this year's class, has the potential to be the perfect wingman for Jeanty.
"All I can think of is thunder and lightning," said Washington, whom the Raiders drafted after acquiring the pick from the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for a fourth-round pick and a sixth-round pick.
Round 5, No. 150:Dalton Johnson, S, Arizona
My take: Las Vegas drafted Johnson after acquiring the No. 150 pick from the New Orleans Saints in exchange for a 2026 seventh-round pick (219th overall) and DE Tyree Wilson.
After Las Vegas drafted former Arizona safety Treydan Stukes in the second round, it addedone of his teammates. Johnson adds versatility to the secondary, playing 540 of his career snaps in the slot and 702 at safety. He started 35 of 56 games, totaling 275 tackles, 27 run stops, three sacks, seven forced fumbles, nine pass breakups and five interceptions.
Johnson will most likely be a backup strong safety and add value on special teams.
This is the first time that Arizona has had three defensive backs selected in the same year in the Common Draft Era, per ESPN Research. Two of them were taken by the Raiders.
Round 5, No. 175:Hezekiah Masses, CB, California
My take: The Raiders continued to load up on secondary players. Masses became the third defensive back taken on Day 3 and fourth of the draft. Masses spent three seasons at Florida International before transferring to Cal, where he put his ball skills on display. In 13 games, he totaled five interceptions and 14 pass breakups -- tied for the most in the FBS with teammate Brent Austin and N.C. State's Devon Marshall -- while allowing a QBR of 27.3.
He was frequently used in press coverage. Masses' 144 coverage snaps in press coverage were the most in the ACC and sixth most across the FBS (109 coverage snaps in press from 2022-24 at FIU). Las Vegas' secondary looks much better compared to a few days ago.
Round 6, No. 195:Malik Benson, WR, Oregon
My take: At long last, the Raiders have taken a wide receiver. Benson has the potential to be a vertical threat in Kubiak's offense. He totaled 719 receiving yards, 282 of those yards came on vertical routes. Benson also provides value on special teams. He had an 85-yard punt return touchdown against USC last season.
Las Vegas has a ton of speed in its wide receiver room with Benson, Jalen Nailor, Dont'e Thornton Jr. and Tre Tucker.
Round 7, No. 229: Brandon Cleveland, DT, NC State
My take: It was expected that the Raiders would address their need for a defensive tackle earlier in the draft. Instead, they waited until the seventh round by taking Cleveland -- who can be a productive run defender in the trenches. In 2025, Cleveland posted a career-best run stop rate of 4.2%. He also had a combined 24 pressures in the past two seasons.
Cleveland has a chance to compete for a rotational role in Las Vegas' defensive front that features Adam Butler, Jonah Laulu, Tonka Hemingway, JJ Pegues and Thomas Booker IV.
]
