2026 NFL Draft Grade: Las Vegas Raiders -- B-

The Las Vegas Raiders entered the 2026 NFL Draft with one glaring, undeniable need: find a franchise quarterback. With Kirk Cousins entering the twilight of his career and the depth chart behind him unproven, general manager John Spytek and head coach Klint Kubiak held the No. 1 overall pick and knew exactly what they had to do. But quarterback was far from the only hole. Cornerback was a critical weakness -- the secondary was a liability in 2025 -- and wide receiver and defensive tackle ranked as high priorities for a team trying to climb in the rugged AFC West.

What unfolded over three days was a draft class of dramatic highs and frustrating lows. The Raiders landed their quarterback of the future, pulled off one of the most remarkable value heists of the entire draft, added two more Day 2 steals, and then tripped over themselves with a pair of puzzling reaches in the middle rounds. The net result is a B- class -- an overall numeric grade of 69.9 -- that could look like an A if the hits develop as projected and the misses are forgotten.

Pick 1 (Round 1) -- Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana Grade: A (86.0)

The easiest pick of the weekend. Fernando Mendoza was the top quarterback on virtually every draft board, a polished passer with the arm talent, athleticism, and leadership to be a true franchise cornerstone. The Raiders had no proven starter beyond Cousins, and this pick fills a critical hole with the best player in the class. Mendoza lands in an ideal situation: he can learn behind a veteran while the team builds around him. Most evaluators had him as a top-five prospect overall, so the value at No. 1 is exactly where it should be for a quarterback-needy team picking first. This is the foundation of the entire rebuild.

Pick 38 (Round 2) -- Treydan Stukes, S, Arizona Acquired via trade from Washington via Houston Grade: B (70.0)

After trading back into the second round, the Raiders addressed the safety position with a versatile defensive back from Arizona. Treydan Stukes brings range, ball skills, and the ability to play both deep coverage and near the box. The safety room currently features Jeremy Chinn, Terrell Edmunds, and Isaiah Pola-Mao -- solid veterans, but none offer long-term certainty. Stukes was ranked around 35th on most boards, and at pick 38 this is fair value for a player who fills a moderate need. He adds youth and athleticism to a secondary that needed an infusion.

Pick 67 (Round 3) -- Keyron Crawford, EDGE, Auburn Grade: A- (83.0)

This is where the Raiders' draft really took off. Keyron Crawford was viewed by most draft analysts as a late-first to early-second-round talent, and the Raiders landed him at pick 67 in the third round. That is exceptional value. Crawford is a twitched-up pass rusher who can immediately rotate behind Maxx Crosby and Malcolm Koonce. With Koonce's contract situation uncertain and Crosby commanding constant attention, adding a high-upside edge rusher was a smart investment. Even though edge was not a critical need, the value was too good to pass up, and Crawford brings a dynamic presence to an already strong defensive front.

Pick 91 (Round 3) -- Trey Zuhn III, C, Texas A&M Acquired via trade from Buffalo via Houston Grade: A (85.0)

Another absolute steal. Trey Zuhn III was widely regarded as one of the top interior offensive linemen in the class, with most boards placing him in the top 50. The Raiders got him at 91 overall. That is a massive value gap. Zuhn is a powerful run blocker with the versatility to play center or guard. With Tyler Linderbaum already anchoring the center spot, Zuhn can slide into a guard competition immediately. Interior offensive line was a high-priority need, and this pick addresses it while delivering elite value. This might be the most underrated pick of the entire class.

Pick 101 (Round 4) -- Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee Acquired via trade from Tennessee via Buffalo Grade: A+ (100.0)

This is the signature pick of the Raiders' 2026 draft. Jermod McCoy was viewed by the vast majority of draft analysts as a top-10 prospect in the entire class -- a shutdown corner with elite traits. The fact that he fell to the fourth round at pick 101 is almost inexplicable. The Raiders traded up to get him, and they landed a true CB1 at a position that was the roster's biggest weakness. Cornerback was a critical need, and McCoy steps in as a potential Day 1 starter. This is a perfect grade: elite player, massive value, fills the biggest hole on the roster. If McCoy becomes the lockdown corner everyone expects, this pick alone could define the class.

Pick 122 (Round 4) -- Mike Washington Jr., RB, Arkansas Acquired via trade from Philadelphia via Atlanta Grade: D (40.0)

After the highs of the third and early fourth rounds, the Raiders hit a speed bump. Mike Washington Jr. was ranked around 152 on most boards, making this a significant reach in the fourth round. Running back was not a pressing need -- the Raiders already have Ashton Jeanty, Chris Collier, and Dylan Laube in the room. Washington is a physical runner with some upside, but taking him this early when higher-graded players at more important positions were available is hard to justify. The grade reflects a major reach at a non-essential spot.

Pick 150 (Round 5) -- Dalton Johnson, S, Arizona Acquired via trade from New Orleans Grade: D (40.0)

For the second time in the draft, the Raiders selected a safety from Arizona. Dalton Johnson was ranked outside the top 280 on most boards, making this a massive reach in the fifth round. The Raiders did need safety depth, but there were higher-graded players available at positions of greater need. Johnson is a developmental prospect who will have to earn his way onto the roster through special teams. This pick, along with the Washington selection, is the main reason the overall grade is not higher.

Pick 175 (Round 5) -- Hezekiah Masses, CB, California Grade: C (56.0)

The Raiders double-dipped at cornerback, and this time they got slightly better value. Hezekiah Masses was ranked around 199 on most boards, so taking him at 175 is a modest reach. But cornerback was a critical need, and Masses adds depth and competition to a group that just got a huge boost from Jermod McCoy. He is a long, athletic corner who fits the scheme and has developmental upside. The grade reflects a slight overdraft at a position of need, which is defensible.

Pick 195 (Round 6) -- Malik Benson, WR, Oregon Acquired via trade from Tampa Bay Grade: C (56.0)

Wide receiver was a high-priority need for the Raiders, and Malik Benson is an intriguing late-round flyer. He was ranked around 243 on most boards, making this a reach of about 48 spots. But in the sixth round, reaching for need is far less costly. Benson is a big-bodied target who can compete for snaps in a receiver room that lacks a true WR1. He has the tools to develop into a contributor, and the Raiders needed to add talent to this group.

Pick 229 (Round 7) -- Brandon Cleveland, DT, NC State Acquired via trade from Tampa Bay Grade: A- (83.0)

The Raiders finished the draft with a strong value pick. Brandon Cleveland was ranked around 225 on most boards, and the Raiders grabbed him at 229 -- essentially fair value. Defensive tackle was a high-priority need, and Cleveland is a disruptive interior presence who can rotate in immediately. The Raiders have a deep but unspectacular DT group, and Cleveland adds a young, hungry player to the mix. A solid way to close out the draft.

Overall Grade: B- (69.9)

The best pick of the class is clearly Jermod McCoy, a top-10 talent who fell to the fourth round and fills the team's biggest need. Getting a potential shutdown corner at pick 101 is the kind of draft fortune that can reshape a defense. The worst picks are Mike Washington Jr. and Dalton Johnson -- both were significant reaches at positions that were not critical needs, and they drag down the class average considerably.

What the Raiders did exceptionally well was address their two biggest needs -- quarterback and cornerback -- with high-quality talent. Fernando Mendoza at No. 1 is the obvious headline, but the Day 2 steals of Keyron Crawford and Trey Zuhn III show that Spytek and Kubiak know how to work the board. The aggressive trading to acquire extra picks in the second, third, and fourth rounds paid off handsomely.

The draft's weak points came in Rounds 4 and 5, where the Raiders reached for running back and safety instead of taking the best player available. Those picks will need to hit as developmental contributors to justify the draft capital.

On balance, this is a B- class that lands the Raiders a franchise quarterback and a potential star cornerback. That is a winning combination. If Mendoza becomes the answer under center and McCoy locks down one side of the field, no one will remember the Day 3 reaches. The Raiders came into the draft with a clear plan and executed it. The grade reflects both the highs and the lows.

Pick-by-Pick Summary