The Las Vegas Raiders shipped out star defensive end Maxx Crosby on Friday, agreeing to deal the 5-time Pro Bowler to the Baltimore Ravens. In return, Las Vegas reportedly picks up a first-round pick in each of the next two drafts once the deal is finalized next week.
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Trading away Crosby adds another premium pick to the Raiders draft roster for 2026. The Raiders now hold the No. 1 overall pick and pick up Baltimore’s slot at No. 14. Of course, they must now replace their defensive cornerstone; Crosby is the only Las Vegas defensive player to earn a Pro Bowl berth in any of the last four seasons.
With Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza seemingly carved in stone as the No. 1 overall pick, the draft capital from the Ravens is a logical way to help the Raiders fill the pass-rushing void left by Crosby’s departure.
Updated Raiders draft pick list
Jan 4, 2026; Paradise, Nevada, USA; A Las Vegas Raiders fan cheers after the Raiders defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 14-12 at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
1st round, No. 1 overall
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1st round, No. 14
2nd round, No. 36
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3rd round, No. 67
4th round, No. 102
4th round, No. 117
4th round, No. 134
5th round, No. 175
6th round, No. 182
6th round, No. 185
7th round, No. 218
Note: Picks 134 and 175 are projected compensatory picks. The NFL officially awards the comp picks later this month.
Mock draft
Feb 6, 2026; San Francisco, CA, USA; The 2026 NFL Draft logo at the Super Bowl LX Experience at the Moscone Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Day 1 picks
No. 1: Fernando Menzona, QB, Indiana. The only real drama here is what jersey number Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy winner from the national champion Hoosiers, will choose to wear in the Silver and Black
No. 14: Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn. It’s a daunting task to replace Crosby. Faulk has the athletic potential to pull it off. The 6-6, 275-pounder is still growing into being an impactful pass rusher, but Faulk is already an elite run defender with considerable upside. Auburn played him inside, a role that sets him up nicely for the new Las Vegas 3-4 front. The 20-year-old is noted for his football character, too.
36: R Mason Thomas, EDGE, Oklahoma. The undersized Thomas won’t fit every defense, but playing as a stand-up OLB outside a 3-man front is the optimal usage for the souped-up speed rusher. He might be best-in-class at turning the corner after beating the tackle off the snap.
67: Skyler Bell, WR, UConn. Wildly and consistently productive receiver who can align outside or in the slot. Bell’s ability to snatch the ball from the air on the dead run and quickly transition into a very effective runner fits very well with Mendoza’s style of quarterbacking.
Day 3 picks
No. 102: Deontae Lawson, LB, Alabama. Lawson brings twitchy athleticism and outstanding short-range coverage skills to a Raiders defense that needs to replace its linebacking corps overnight.
117: Bryce Lance, WR, North Dakota State. Yes, he’s Trey Lance’s brother. This Lance is a dynamic athlete of an outside receiver with high-end speed and downfield ball skills. His all-around game needs some polish, but Lance can contribute right away as a field-stretching threat.
134: Charles Demmings, CB, Stephen F Austin. The draft’s “Chuck D” proved his athletic prowess at the Combine, and the 6-1 speedster showed his oft-dominant coverage skills at the FCS level. His overall football sense is growing, as Demmings didn’t take up the game until his senior year of high school. Demmings helped himself a lot at the Senior Bowl.
175: Isaiah World, OL, Oregon. World is unironically one of the “planet theory” types of offensive tackles; there aren’t many humans his size who move as well as World showed at Oregon and Nevada. His game is pockmarked with inconsistent play, and he’ll likely miss his rookie season with a torn ACL suffered in training. Delayed gratification lottery ticket who was a potential top-100 draftee before the injury.
182: Red Murdock, LB, Buffalo. A throwback style of 3-4 ILB who would have been at home in a Bill Parcells defense. Instinctive, tough, powerful. Murdock won’t offer much outside the tackle box, but playing in a 3-4 hides his deficiencies.
185: V.J. Payne, S, Kansas State. A high-floor prospect with good size and considerable college tackling productivity, Payne can play any safety role. He projects best as a strongside split safety who can attack everything in front of him.
218: George Gumbs, EDGE, Florida. Gumbsstarted his college career as a wide receiver at Northern Illinois, but he’s transformed into a very athletically promising stand-up pass rusher. There is upside to work with, and Gumbs has already proven he’s got some nifty speed-to-power craftwork as a rusher.
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