{"id":280030,"date":"2026-04-25T19:59:53","date_gmt":"2026-04-25T23:59:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=280030"},"modified":"2026-04-25T19:59:53","modified_gmt":"2026-04-25T23:59:53","slug":"las-vegas-raiders-2026-nfl-draft-grades","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2026\/04\/25\/las-vegas-raiders-2026-nfl-draft-grades\/","title":{"rendered":"Las Vegas Raiders 2026 NFL Draft Grades"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Las Vegas Raiders have had multiple players slip through their fingers in the NFL Draft. But it seems like they are moving in the right direction. With defensive end Maxx Crosby<\/a> and running back Ashton Jeanty,<\/a> the team turned their attention to the draft.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rumors and speculation were put to bed when Hoosiers\u2019<\/a> quarterback Fernando Mendoza<\/a> went first overall. But who else did the Raiders select in the 2026 Draft<\/a>?<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/smartframe-embed><\/p>\n

Las Vegas Raiders 2026 Draft Grades: The Air Raid to Come<\/strong><\/h2>\n

First Round\u00a0 (1st Overall): Fernando Mendoza<\/a>, QB<\/h3>\n

First, Las Vegas has found their franchise quarterback. It is the first time that an Indiana Hoosier passer has been drafted first overall. The reigning national champion has the ability to make a name for himself with the organization.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mendoza will be the cornerstone of a franchise looking to end its recent quarterback carousel. The Raiders will reclaim their famous \u2018Commitment to Excellence\u2019 with Mendoza\u2019s winning pedigree.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Standing at 6 \u20185 and 236 pounds, he has a traditional quarterback frame to withstand NFL pass rushers while operating in the pocket.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Las Vegas Raiders Draft Grade: A+<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Second Round (38th Overall): Treydan Stukes, Safety<\/h3>\n

The Las Vegas Raiders spent their 38th overall selection on safety Treydan Stukes.<\/a> He ran a 4.33 at the 40-yard dash, which was the third fastest among safeties. He is considered an underdog story when he went from unrecruited to the 38th overall pick.<\/span><\/p>\n

Stukes has a high football I.Q. and is extremely versatile. He is a huge ballhawk and has an eye for any football that comes his way. This was missing in the secondary for Las Vegas in 2025. He can play nickel, outside corner, and both safety positions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Las Vegas Raiders Draft Grade: B-<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Third Round (67th Overall): Keyron Crawford, Edge<\/h3>\n

Widely considered to have one of the highest ceilings in the defensive class, Keyron Crawford<\/a> is relatively new to the sport of football. He did not start playing football until his senior year in high school.<\/span><\/p>\n

He has an explosive first step and has elite lateral agility. These moves helped him gather 43 quarterback pressures in 2025 with Auburn.<\/a> He has the athleticism to play outside linebacker and the traditional defensive end.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Raiders added him to gain speed and disruption. Crawford will add a high-energy pace and can learn behind the seasoned veterans. He is raw, but he has potential.<\/span><\/p>\n

Las Vegas Raiders Draft <\/strong>Grade: C<\/h4>\n

Third Round (91st overall): Trey Zuhn III, OL<\/h3>\n

Trey Zuhn III<\/a> was a four-year starter at Texas A&M<\/a> and served as the team captain. He brings to the Raiders a high-level of SEC experience and a 4.41 GPA to their locker room. He finished 2025 with a 96.8 PPF pass blocking grade, which was first in the nation among all tackles.<\/span><\/p>\n

He surrendered just two sacks and ten quarterback pressures all year long. At 6 \u20186 and 312 pounds, he is extremely versatile. He can play left tackle, left guard, and center. This will be a huge security blanket for Mendoza. The Raiders\u2019 offensive line was inconsistent in 2025.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Las Vegas Raiders Draft <\/strong>Grade: B<\/h4>\n

Fourth Round (101st Overall): Jermod McCoy, Cornerback<\/h3>\n

The Raiders moved up to the first pick in Day 3 to grab Jermod McCoy<\/a> from Tennessee.<\/a> This is a player that many scouts and coaches had as a borderline first-round talent. Unfortunately, the injury bug hit him, and it sank his value.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Standing at 6 \u20181 with a huge 77-inch wingspan, he is a \u2018natural press-man\u2019 corner. He is physical at the line and has a high coverage knowledge of the game. Unfortunately, he missed the 2025 season with a torn ACL. But his tape from 2024 has been elite. If he returns to form, this is a steal.<\/span><\/p>\n

Las Vegas Raiders Draft <\/strong>Grade: B+<\/h4>\n

Fourth Round (122nd Overall): Mike Washington Jr., Running Back<\/h3>\n

Mike Washington Jr.<\/a> from Arkansas<\/a> is a powerhouse runner who adds a different dimension to the Raiders\u2019 backfield.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He is an explosive runner. Once he hits his high-end speed, he is very difficult to bring down. He runs with a violent, downhill style that scouts have compared to NFL running back Jay Ajayi<\/a>. A home run threat, he never stops moving forward. This is perfect for short-yardage or closing out games.<\/span><\/p>\n

Las Vegas Raiders Draft <\/strong>Grade: B+<\/h4>\n

Fifth Round (150th Overall): Dalton Johnson, Safety<\/h3>\n

The\u00a0 Las Vegas Raiders ended up swapping Tyree Wilson<\/a> to move up for safety Dalton Johnson. By doing this, it reunites him with his college teammate, Treydan Stukes. Despite being undersized (5 \u201811 and 192 pounds), he is a tackling machine. He racked up nearly 100 tackles in each of his last two seasons.<\/span><\/p>\n

He is a passionate \u2018box safety\u2019 who excels in run support. His chemistry with Stukes should make for a seamless transition in sub-packages that the Raiders love to run.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Las Vegas Raiders Draft <\/strong>Grade: B-<\/h4>\n

Fifth Round (175th Overall): Hezekiah Masses<\/a>, Cornerback<\/h3>\n

Hezekiah Masses<\/a> is another ballhawk for the secondary who led the nation in pass breakups (18) last season. He is a master manipulator. He thrives in taking the football away. A player with elite vision and anticipation, he can jump a route and grab an interception.<\/span><\/p>\n

He can be \u2018grabby\u2019, however. His eight penalties in 2025 were a concern to many scouts. But his ability to flip the field with interceptions is what the Raiders\u2019 secondary lacked in 2025. Another solid pickup.<\/span><\/p>\n

Las Vegas Raiders Draft <\/strong>Grade: B-<\/h4>\n

Sixth Round (195th Overall): Malik Benson, Wide Receiver<\/h3>\n

Malik Benson<\/a> is a vertical threat that provides pure \u2018track speed\u2019 to an offense. He clocked a 4.37 at the NFL combine and is a fluid runner in space. He averaged over 16 yards per catch during his time at Oregon.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Although he is on the heavier side for a receiver (200 pounds), his wheels make up for it. He will likely start as a deep-threat specialist to keep safeties honest for quarterback Fernando Mendoza.<\/span><\/p>\n

Las Vegas Raiders Draft <\/strong>Grade: B-<\/h4>\n

Seventh Round (229th Overall): Brandon Cleveland, Defensive Line<\/h3>\n

When the Las Vegas Raiders selected defensive lineman Brandon Cleveland<\/a>, they got a massive player to round out the class. He is a four-year player with a low center of gravity. He is rarely moved off his spot and specializes in splitting double teams.<\/span><\/p>\n

This is a high-floor rotational player who will help solidify the interior run defense on early downs. This can also open holes for running back Ashton Jeanty.<\/span><\/p>\n

Las Vegas Raiders Draft <\/strong>Grade B-<\/h4>\n

Reflection on the Las Vegas Raiders Draft Picks<\/h3>\n

With this group of selections, the Las Vegas Raiders have effectively overhauled their defense. They also surrounded their new quarterback with versatile protection and good weapons. <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

With the conclusion of the 2026 NFL Draft, see how the Las Vegas Raiders did in the event to plan for 2026 with QB Fernando Mendoza.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5783,"featured_media":280112,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":true,"sfio_embed_code":"<\/smartframe-embed>","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1647,17,36],"tags":[33533,33710,33706,34384,7399,7730,34298],"class_list":["post-280030","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl-draft","category-raiders","category-nfl-news","tag-2026-nfl-draft","tag-fernando-mendoza","tag-jermod-mccoy","tag-keyron-crawford","tag-las-vegas-raiders-news","tag-las-vegas-raiders-roster","tag-treydan-stukes"],"modified_by":"Michael Zimmelman","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/280030","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5783"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=280030"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/280030\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":280108,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/280030\/revisions\/280108"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/280112"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=280030"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=280030"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=280030"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}