Each week leading up to the NFL Draft, Raiders.com will compile the latest mock drafts from top analysts and take a look at who they're predicting the Silver and Black will select with the No. 1 overall pick.
The Raiders have reportedly added a first-round pick (No. 14 overall) via trade with the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for Maxx Crosby. However, trades do not become official until the start of the new league year on March 11 at 1 p.m. PT.
With the reported draft pick addition, here's what the experts are projecting for the Silver and Black.
No. 1 Pick: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Analysis: "Here's one pick that won't be changing during this exercise. There's even less of a mystery around this selection than there was a year ago with the Titans at No. 1, as the Raiders haven't openly pondered any trade possibilities. Mendoza, a rhythmic and clean distributor, sizes up as a nearly ideal trigger man for new coach Klint Kubiak's system. The Maxx Crosby trade heightens the importance of identifying a formidable supporting cast to bring aboard through free agency and the draft, but at least Las Vegas has ample resources with which to enact its offseason transformation."
No. 14 Pick: Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State
Analysis: "It's fitting that Las Vegas would be in search of a burly bouncer capable of safeguarding the franchise's new headlining act. Ioane is adept at dispatching all sorts of defenders, and there wouldn't be any projection required in letting him go to work on the interior."
Date: March 9
No. 1 Pick: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Analysis: "There is one pick that won't change this week, this month, next month ... you get the point. Mendoza will be the No. 1 selection and provides the Raiders a beacon of hope around whom to build their franchise going forward. He's an accurate, strong-armed, big-bodied quarterback who met the mark at every challenge of Indiana's national championship run."
Date: March 9
No. 1 Pick: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Analysis: "The safest quarterback in the class (and the only first-round QB in this mock), Mendoza has the ability to stay consistent no matter what's going on around him — which will be a great asset as the Raiders begin their rebuild."
No. 14 Pick: Kendrick Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
Analysis: "One of the youngest players in the class, Faulk has the potential to be a true zero-through-nine-tech weapon up front, for a team that just traded Maxx Crosby. Tackle also could be an option here, as the Raiders (likely) begin their build around Mendoza."
Date: March 9
No. 1 Pick: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Analysis: "You can just about write this one in pen. Mendoza enjoyed a dream season at Indiana, posting a perfect 16-0 record, helping the program claim its first national championship and becoming the school's first Heisman Trophy winner. His 91.6 PFF overall grade ranked third among all quarterbacks."
No. 14 Pick: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
Analysis: "The Raiders now own two top-15 picks after trading star edge defender Maxx Crosby to the Ravens. In this mock, Las Vegas finds its next franchise quarterback, Fernando Mendoza, with the top pick and then adds a weapon for him to throw to here in Tyson. His extensive injury history is a concern, but he did produce an 89.5 PFF receiving grade over the past two years."
Date: March 9
2026 Free Agent Tracker
Complete coverage for monitoring all of the Raiders' free agent activity. Be sure to check back for official news and transactions.
No. 1 Pick: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Analysis: "He didn't work out at the scouting combine. Didn't have to. When you're 6-foot-5, 236 pounds, paced FBS with 41 TD passes, process like a microchip and just led your school to a magical national championship? Heck, there's virtually nothing Mendoza can do at this point to help his football résumé – though interactions with reporters and his fellow combine attendees continued to burnish his reputation as an outstanding person and teammate. (And good news − now he doesn't have to contend with McDuffie twice a year! Also, the Raiders' exportation of Crosby means Mendoza will almost surely get immediate and needed offensive reinforcements.)"
No. 14 Pick: Makai Lemon, WR, USC
Analysis: "[T]he right move here would probably be for Lemon – a run-after-catch dynamo who typically works out of the slot and has been widely compared to fellow Trojan Amon-Ra St. Brown. Lemon could not only provide Mendoza with a safety valve at a stage when he'll almost certainly need one, he should also alleviate pressure on Pro Bowl TE Brock Bowers."
Date: March 7
Pick: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Analysis: "The Raiders need a quarterback and Mendoza is the best one in this draft. This is a no-brainer draft pick and no need to discuss the reasoning. Mendoza will be a Raider."
Date: March 5
Pick: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Analysis: "Never has a player who sat out a workout at the combine been so warmly received by the fans in attendance. I still believe the "Potentate of Hoosier Land" is headed to Tom Brady's Raiders."
Date: March 5
Pick: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Analysis: "I enjoyed seeing the reactions to Fernando Mendoza's size on social media during the combine. Yes, the 6-foot-5, 230-pound QB who had Miami defenders (some of whom will be early picks) bounce off him during his TD run in the title game is big. Who would've thunk it?"
Date: March 4
Pick: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Analysis: "This pick has been all but locked in for a while now, and there's no reason to believe that anything that happened at the combine changed things. Mendoza may not start from day one—Raiders GM John Spytek said in Indianapolis last week that he's "not necessarily in favor of running [a rookie quarterback] out there right away"—but he has all the tools to develop into the franchise passer Las Vegas needs."
Date: March 4
Pick: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Analysis: "It was surprising how little Mendoza-to-Vegas buzz there was in Indianapolis. But that likely reflects how much of a foregone conclusion this pairing seems to be at No. 1."
Date: March 4
Pick: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Analysis: "The Raiders need a quarterback. Fernando Mendoza is easily the best quarterback prospect. Is he Matt Ryan plus Heisman Winner? 16-0 at a non-traditional power, big arm, moves well, humble, gratitude, and you get that rookie quarterback contract for the next four to five years."
Date: March 4
Take a look at Head Coach Klint Kubiak's coaching staff for the 2026 season.
Klint Kubiak - Head Coach
Mike McCoy - Assistant Head Coach
Matt Capurro - Senior vice president of coaching operations
Rohit Mogalayapalli - Director of game management and special projects
Andrew Janocko - Offensive coordinator
Zach Azzanni - Wide receivers
Pete Collins - Offensive quality control
Rick Dennison - Offensive line
Nich Holz - Offensive pass game coordinator
Mario Jeberaeel - Offensive run game coordinator
Conner McQueen - Offensive quality control
Luke Steckel - Tight ends
Ben Wilkerson - Assistant offensive line
Omar Young - Running backs
Tim Zetts - Offensive assistant
Rob Leonard - Defensive coordinator
Steve Ferentz - Defensive assistant
Drew Gaither - Defensive quality control
Cody Grimm - Defensive quality control
Al Holcomb - Senior defensive assistant
Kenyon Jackson - Assistant defensive line
Ketner Kupp - Defensive quality control
Matt Robinson - Safeties
Travis Smith - Defensive line
Ronell Williams - Linebackers
Joe Woods - Pass game coordinator/defensive backs
Joe DeCamillis - Special teams coordinator
Marquice Williams - Senior assistant of special teams
Tim McConnell - Assistant special teams
