2026 Draft - Raiders & all teams (April 23-25)

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2026 Draft - Raiders & all teams (April 23-25)

Unread post by RaiderFan1 »

Obvious Mendoza #1 no consideration of trading that pick.
But who you got picks 2 - 4 thats going to help Mendoza.

#2 Raiders should be able to select WR Chris Bell or WR KC Concepcion with our early 2nd.

#3 I forget who it was, but someone here mentioned that the best pure dominant RT coming out of college could be got in the 3rd. And stated hes played his whole career at RT, and not being moved around the line.

Sounds like solid gets

Id hope the rest of the draft is building the trenches, with maybe 1 DB in there

Who else you like ?
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Unread post by Raiders Baby »

Attyla wrote: Mon Mar 23, 2026 12:33 pm The point structure should only be used as a guideline. Actual talent in an individual draft will swing those values a lot. This is a draft where the talent depreciates those values somewhat
To your point, every draft is different, and this draft seems to be top heavy in OTs. Some interesting prospects at the top of the board, but the rest seem to be developmental guys.

We have a lot of needs, so I don’t necessarily want to be aggressive just to fill one need, but we also have a lot of picks, particularly in the 4th round where we have three.

Most outside the building agree that RT is one of the top positions of need. If the front office agrees with that assessment, the best place to add top-end value is the draft. After that, we are hoping to find a gem amongst the scraps.

Possible we get lucky or Spy has a trick up his sleeve, but I might consider using some of our extra picks to try to get a guy who we think can be our starting RT for the next 10 years.

I just used the drafttek trade chart as a ballpark, maybe we can do 117 + 134, or maybe what I offered isn’t enough. As you said, every draft is different. But I think 36 + two of our 4ths could get us into the 20s. Might be a quality over quantity opportunity
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Unread post by Attyla »

Raiders Baby wrote: Mon Mar 23, 2026 1:43 pm To your point, every draft is different, and this draft seems to be top heavy in OTs. Some interesting prospects at the top of the board, but the rest seem to be developmental guys.

We have a lot of needs, so I don’t necessarily want to be aggressive just to fill one need, but we also have a lot of picks, particularly in the 4th round where we have three.

Most outside the building agree that RT is a position of need. If the front office agrees with that assessment, the best place to add top-end value is the draft. After that, we are hoping to find a gem amongst the scraps.

Possible we get lucky or Spy has a trick up his sleeve, but I might consider using some of our extra picks to try to get a guy who we think can be our starting RT for the next 10 years.

I just used the drafttek trade chart as a ballpark, maybe we can do 117 + 134, or maybe what I offered isn’t enough. As you said, every draft is different. But I think 36 + two of our 4ths could get us into the 20s. Might be a quality over quantity opportunity
To this point, when you have the needs this team has, every pick has value. The NT in the fourth may be as valuable as a tackle or a guard but will cost less to get.
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Unread post by Raiders Baby »

For both Attyla and Tooz since both responded, what about something like this:

1.1 Mendo
1.25 Miller RT
3.67 Domonique Orange NT
4.134 DJ Campbell OG

Still get 4 guys who would hope start, a franchise QB + 3 guys in the trenches.

I think my trade up would affect our ability to go after a WR or DB more than our ability to fix the trenches. And certainly, that is an opportunity cost. But might be worth it if there’s a player we absolutely love (again, Blake is just my non-expert example)
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Unread post by Rabidraider »

Looking at wide receivers who could be available mid rounds is Ja'Kobi Lane who played with Mendoza when he was at USC.

6'4" 200lbs

If he could drop to the 4th it would be an amazing pick up. I suspect he wont make it past the 3rd.
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Unread post by raiderboyron »

Thought Lane was USC only.

Edit. He was.
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Unread post by vtraider »

Rabidraider wrote: Mon Mar 23, 2026 3:08 pm Looking at wide receivers who could be available mid rounds is Ja'Kobi Lane who played with Mendoza when he was at USC.

6'4" 200lbs

If he could drop to the 4th it would be an amazing pick up. I suspect he wont make it past the 3rd.
Mendoza didn't play at USC he was at Cal
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Unread post by Attyla »

Raiders Baby wrote: Mon Mar 23, 2026 1:55 pm For both Attyla and Tooz since both responded, what about something like this:

1.1 Mendo
1.25 Miller RT
3.67 Domonique Orange NT
4.134 DJ Campbell OG

Still get 4 guys who would hope start, a franchise QB + 3 guys in the trenches.

I think my trade up would affect our ability to go after a WR or DB more than our ability to fix the trenches. And certainly, that is an opportunity cost. But might be worth it if there’s a player we absolutely love (again, Blake is just my non-expert example)
I like Orange, but the drop off from him and the next group is not that great. I think there will be better pure players in the third than he is. Not hating it but I also love keeping more picks. I am sure Proctor will be there at our second round pick and I like his versatility in this draft
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Unread post by Rabidraider »

vtraider wrote: Mon Mar 23, 2026 3:42 pm Mendoza didn't play at USC he was at Cal
Thanks, for clearing that up.
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Unread post by Attyla »

Rabidraider wrote: Mon Mar 23, 2026 4:10 pm Thanks, thought for clearing that up.
Hey, it is cool, Montana played at Notre Dame and not at Boise St

It is crazy the conspiracy theories
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Unread post by raiders93 »

Raiders Baby wrote: Mon Mar 23, 2026 1:43 pm To your point, every draft is different, and this draft seems to be top heavy in OTs. Some interesting prospects at the top of the board, but the rest seem to be developmental guys.

We have a lot of needs, so I don’t necessarily want to be aggressive just to fill one need, but we also have a lot of picks, particularly in the 4th round where we have three.

Most outside the building agree that RT is one of the top positions of need. If the front office agrees with that assessment, the best place to add top-end value is the draft. After that, we are hoping to find a gem amongst the scraps.

Possible we get lucky or Spy has a trick up his sleeve, but I might consider using some of our extra picks to try to get a guy who we think can be our starting RT for the next 10 years.

I just used the drafttek trade chart as a ballpark, maybe we can do 117 + 134, or maybe what I offered isn’t enough. As you said, every draft is different. But I think 36 + two of our 4ths could get us into the 20s. Might be a quality over quantity opportunity
IMO the 2nd round (or trade up) is really about a need that needs to be addressed this year - a position that, if not addressed, poses an issue that could have a cascading effect. I think that’s the big thing with 36 - that’s a pick that should be able to start… now.

For me, that’s RT and maybe as a close 2nd: WR.

I think RT really solidifies our o-line as a strength. I think the marginal benefit you get from that in terms of Jeanty and the ground game… and the marginal benefit you get from giving your rookie QB a really good ground game. Another sizeable investment in the line should be a high priority.
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Unread post by ELCAraiderfan »

I disagree with not trying to target a LT in the 2nd round IF he is the best player available at #36. We can not trust Kolton Miller's ability to stay healthy as his recent history shows. LT has to be a position that we look seriously at. Unless of course our new Oline savant thinks we already have a good one on staff maybe from last years draft. I would take his word over everybody's. But I would still look for a LT in maybe the 4th, 5th round.
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Unread post by Attyla »

Carver Willis, curious player. Not great size but teams are very interested in him. If we want him, he is a 5th round guy who will likely go in the 4th. He is one who would move inside at least to start is my best guess. He has a chance to be one of those guys who can play any position on the line so I am hearing a lot of scuttlebutt that the 9ers are zeroing in on the guy as a pickup for the team. Jags seem to have interest in him as well.
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Unread post by Attyla »

FYI Carver went to KState before moving to Washington so I am very familiar with the player having watched a lot of KState games. Their QB had his best year while Carver was blocking for him.
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Unread post by CWood24 »

Have done a few mocks & this is the one i like most

1st - Fernando Mendoza QB
2nd - Lee Hunter NT
3rd - Drew Shelton OT
4th - Bishop Fitzgerald FS
4th - Beau Stephens OG
4th - Tyreak Sapp DL
5th - Red Murdock LB
6th - Jeff Caldwell WR
6th - Kaelon Black RB
7th - Collin Wright CB

OT & NT are interchangeable in the 2nd & 3rd depending who is there, if Hunter is there then he is a must take. The pro comp of Akiem Hicks really hits the mark for me being that he could be that good mix of run D & pass rush you need to anchor the D

Fitzgerald is a ball hawk & versatile to boot he would fill a huge need a could start straight away

Beau Stephens & Drew Shelton are great fits for what Kubiak runs, Shelton like Grant could be a future LT having both battle it out at RT before one eventually move across could be great for the development of both

Caldwell is very similar to Thornton but in the 6th would be a good pick up, has the size & speed plus the potential to be that guy just needs the refinement & development

Black i threw in because of our alleged interest & he feels like he could be a good no.2 to Jeanty

It’s a big ask but 1st through 4th could get us 6 starters i’d settle for half that but fingers crossed
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