Kaelon Black
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ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 09: Kaelon Black #8 of the Indiana Hoosiers reacts after rushing for a touchdown against the Oregon Ducks during the second quarter of the 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 09, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The Las Vegas Raiders are making all the right moves this offseason, and they could make a picture-perfect chemistry move during the 2026 NFL Draft by drafting Fernando Mendoza and his teammate, running back Kaelon Black.
NFL insider Aaron Wilson announced that the Raiders, along with the New York Jets, Carolina Panthers, and Cincinnati Bengals, are set to host Black on a top-30 visit.
It makes a lot of sense why the Raiders would want to pair Black with Mendoza and RB Ashton Jeanty in the backfield.
Raiders Set to Host RB Prospect Kaelon Black, Could Look to Pair with Ashton Jeanty
Head coach Klint Kubiak made it clear this offseason that he wants a “two-man show” in the backfield, saying, “We definitely want to have a two-man show, guys that can share the load. It’s a long season. You don’t want to pull all the carries and targets on one guy. So right now we’re identifying guys that are available in the draft, identifying free agents we might go after, looking at our own roster and seeing who can share that. It’s important that Jeanty has a wingman.”
Through two weeks of free agency, the Raiders have yet to sign a running back, which likely points to them finding Ashton Jeanty’s wingman during the draft. And Kaelon Black could very well be the wingman the Raiders are looking for.
Despite not receiving an invite to the NFL Combine, that hasn’t deterred Black. The Hoosiers’ 5’10 and 210-pound running back, who had 1,040 rushing yards, 5.6 yards per carry in 2025, and 10 touchdowns, participated in the Senior Bowl, saying, “I love the game of football so much I just feel like I couldn’t pass up the opportunity.”
Here’s more on the pros and cons of Black:
Pros:
Determined runner, always grinding out extra yards after contact
Decisive yet patient with good vision
Capable in pass protection
Cons:
Limited receiving skill set
Lacks elite athleticism
Shorter build/frame
The good news for Las Vegas is that most draft analysts are projecting Black to go somewhere between Rounds 4 & 5, which means the Raiders can use their premium draft capital on more urgent areas of need.
Should the Raiders Draft a Running Back Early?
When the Raiders drafted Jeanty with the 6th overall pick last year, it didn’t come as a surprise for people considering what general manager John Spytek said before the draft.
“I mean we just saw Saquon Barkley just change the Eagles in one year,” Spytek commented. “…There’s certain ways to build a team, and I don’t know where we got to a place where we don’t feel like running backs are valued.”
So never rule out Spytek drafting a running back early, even with Jeanty on the team. However, considering the Raiders’ RB room struggled to generate yards before contact, along with the fact that Las Vegas will most likely draft Mendoza with the first overall pick, the offensive line should be a huge area of emphasis.
Kolton Miller is set at left tackle, Tyler Linderbaum is set at center, and Jackson Powers-Johnson is slated to lock down one of the two guard spots. That leaves Spencer Burford and right tackle DJ Glaze as question marks.
A prospect who can play both guard and tackle would be ideal. Someone like Gennings Dunker from Iowa, everyone’s favorite draft prospect. Don’t let the mullet fool you; he’s extremely versatile and technically sound with his feet.
Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic has the Raiders drafting Dunker in the third round, writing, “I love adding Dunker here at No. 67. Dunker, the owner of everyone’s favorite mullet, is a college tackle who probably will be a better fit at guard in the NFL. Still, he’s tough enough to do anything you need him to. Finding a way to get a player like that on the roster — a competitive hammer who loves to work — should be a top priority for the Raiders the rest of this offseason.”
Draft someone like him and Black in the later rounds, and the Raiders are cooking up a fantastic offseason.