Breven Honda
The Las Vegas Raiders are expected to select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Assuming that holds, general manager John Spytek will pivot quickly to No. 36 — the fourth pick of the second round, the same slot where the Raiders drafted Derek Carr in 2014.
With the quarterback addressed, here are five players who make sense for Las Vegas in Round 2.
DL Caleb Banks | Florida
Banks is a 6-foot-6, 327-pound interior lineman with uncommon athleticism for his size. He ran a 5.04 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, ranking eighth among defensive tackles, and turned heads at the Senior Bowl with his ability to create disruption. The concern: Banks fractured his foot during combine workouts and played just three games last season at Florida. His draft stock hinges on how quickly he recovers.
Related: Raider Nation, the Future Is Bright — Don’t Get Ahead of Yourselves in 2026
WR Denzel Boston | Washington
At 6-foot-4 and 212 pounds, Boston is built to be a problem in the red zone — and he proved it. He caught 62 passes for 881 yards and 11 touchdowns last season for the Huskies, earning Third Team All-Big Ten honors. Over the past two seasons, he has scored 20 times. If Mendoza is going to develop in Las Vegas, having a physical mismatch receiver alongside him from day one accelerates that timeline considerably.
OL Chase Bisontis, Texas A&M
Bisontis started 35 of 36 games at left guard for the Aggies, and his production was as clean as his footwork. He allowed just one sack in 795 offensive snaps last season. At 6-foot-5 and 315 pounds, he ran a 5.02 40 and posted a 7.53 shuttle — fourth-best among offensive linemen at the combine. Slotting him between left tackle Kolten Miller and center Tyler Linderbaum immediately upgrades a young offensive line still finding its identity.
WR KC Concepcion | Texas A&M
Bisontis’ teammate brings a different skill set. Concepcion, a 6-foot, 196-pound receiver, won the 2025 Paul Hornung Award as the nation’s most versatile player and earned AP All-American First Team honors. He caught 61 passes for 919 yards and nine touchdowns on an Aggie squad that reached the College Playoff. Concepcion can win vertically and in the slot — exactly the kind of dual-threat receiver Klint Kubiak’s offense can exploit. If he slips out of the first round, the Raiders would be wise to act fast.
OL Emmanuel Pregnon | Oregon
Pregnon profiles as a potential Week 1 starter, which matters for a line that needs to protect a rookie quarterback. Over his final two college seasons, he allowed just one sack and 23 pressures in 1,026 pass-blocking snaps — including only five pressures all of last season. His combine athleticism stood out: a 9-foot-3 broad jump and a 35-inch vertical, tied for second-highest among offensive linemen. He will turn 25 before the season opener, but that experience and polish could be exactly what the Raiders need as Mendoza learns on the job.
Based on Spytek’s free agency run, and Mendoza coming in at No. 1, the Raiders are clearly building — not patching. The names at No. 36 reflect that same philosophy: young, ascending players who can grow alongside a franchise quarterback still learning the professional game. Whether Spytek goes receiver, offensive line, or defensive playmaker, the draft capital and roster foundation are finally in place for Las Vegas to build something that lasts.
Also read: Las Vegas Raiders’ Offensive Line Rebuild Continues With Spencer Burford Signing
