Scott Gulbransen
Thursday night in Pittsburgh, when the Las Vegas Raiders 2026 NFL Draft kicks off, John Spytek picks Fernando Mendoza first overall, and everyone moves on. That part’s done.
What isn’t done is the other nine picks. And that’s where this draft actually gets decided.
Spytek has spent two years loading up on draft capital, including trading veterans, eating losses and building toward a moment like this one. The Raiders have 10 picks across three days. That’s not luck. That’s a plan. Now he has to execute it.
Here’s what he needs to accomplish with the Las Vegas Raiders 2026 NFL Draft later this week in Pittsburgh.
Wide Receiver: Most Urgent Need on the Board
Second-year wideouts Jack Bech and Dont’e Thornton Jr. combined for 30 catches and zero touchdowns in 2025. Zero. That’s two draft picks, one full season and the Raiders got nothing out of either of them at receiver. Now, some of that was on Pete Carroll and his inept 2025 staff, but the need is real. The signing of veteran Jalen Nailor was a good move, but not earth-shattering. Tre Tucker has speed. But this isn’t a room that can support a franchise quarterback right now, and everyone in the building knows it.
The pre-draft visit list for the Raiders tells the story. John Spytek has had KC Concepcion, Denzel Boston, Zachariah Branch (arrested this weekend), Germie Bernard, Ted Hurst, Caleb Douglas and Omar Cooper Jr. visit Henderson ahead of the draft. Seven of the Raiders’ 15 pre-draft visits have been wide receivers. That’s not a coincidence; that’s Spytek telling you exactly where his head is. The question is whether he pays for one at 36 or seeks value at 67 and beyond. Or, does he move up from 36 to grab a first-rounder?
Concepcion is the name that keeps coming up from various pre-draft reports. While that can sometimes be a form of misdirection, there is smoke there. The Texas A&M product had 61 catches, 919 yards and nine touchdowns in 2025. He fits what Kubiak wants at the position with his versatility and explosiveness, plus he can line up anywhere. If he’s there at 36, Spytek shouldn’t think twice.
Jeanty Needs a Complementary RB
Ashton Jeanty is one of the better young backs in football, despite some in Raider Nation considering him a disappointment. Forget that he played behind a sub-par offensive line with the worst position coach in the league. There’s no question Jeanty is going to carry a heavy load in Kubiak’s offense and right now, there’s nobody behind him that can pick up any slack or give him a blow. The Raiders hosted Najee Harris for a visit, but that hasn’t turned into anything yet. Indiana’s Kaelon Black has come up as a late-round option. Somewhere in the middle rounds, Spytek has to solve this, especially with how Kubiak runs that offense. Just look at the Seahawks in 2025 and what they did to be successful. You don’t build around a premium backfield weapon and then let him wear down behind a non-existent rotation.
The Defensive Interior is Beyond Thin
This gets glossed over in draft coverage because everyone’s focused on Mendoza and the receiver room. Not only that, but the modern fan fails to understand the importance of the defensive interior to the pass rush. The Raiders’ defensive tackle depth is thin — and that’s generous. Re-signing Thomas Booker IV was the primary move at that position in free agency, which was fine but not exactly what they needed.
That’s not a solution, that’s a placeholder.
Spytek visited Missouri’s Chris McClellan, Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald and Georgia’s Christen Miller before the draft. The class isn’t deep at the position, but Spytek has three fourth-round picks and options. He needs to use at least one of them here to improve his defense.
Raiders Need Depth at Secondary
Taron Johnson, Eric Stokes and Darien Porter are a workable group of starters. That’s fine. What the Raiders don’t have is proven depth behind them. San Diego State’s Chris Johnson and Georgia’s Daylen Everette both visited the Raiders. With the volume of picks Spytek’s carrying into Day 3, he can afford to take two or three swings in the secondary without it costing him somewhere else.
Related: Las Vegas Raiders: 5 Defensive Backs to watch for NFL Draft Day 2
The Raiders Big Picture
Ten picks are a real opportunity. It’s also a real test. John Spytek has built toward this moment — the No. 1 pick, the capital, the coaching staff, the QB. What happens later this week in Pittsburgh either confirms the plan is real or reveals it still has gaps. Spytek got a huge head start on improving the league’s worst roster during free agency. That is a big deal, but in the NFL you have to hit in the draft more than you miss.
The Raiders went 3-14 last year. Nobody’s pretending this draft makes them contenders. But get Mendoza right, add a legitimate weapon at receiver, shore up the defensive trenches and build secondary depth? That’s a draft that moves the needle. That’s a draft that makes 2026 look like what it’s supposed to be — Year 1 of something real.
Spytek’s had two years to set up the Las Vegas Raiders 2026 NFL Draft . The clock starts on Thursday.
