john spytek
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Las Vegas Raiders GM John Spytek.
There aren’t expected to be any surprises at the top of the 2026 NFL Draft. The Las Vegas Raiders appear destined to draft quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 pick.
If Mendoza ends up being a franchise quarterback, then the 2026 draft class will be a success story for the Raiders, regardless of what they do with the rest of their picks. However, they can really turn the franchise around if they put together a strong and deep class.
The team has plenty of needs, so they could go in many different directions with their second-round pick. Wide receiver has been a position the Raiders have done a lot of work on this offseason, and it sounds like the team won’t go defense with their second pick.
According to ESPN’s Matt Miller, the second-round pick is expected to be used on a position that will help Mendoza, and he specifically named Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston as a player to keep an eye on.
“Pick No. 1 won’t be a surprise, but where the Raiders go at No. 36 is a question a lot of NFL decision-makers are pondering,” Miller wrote. “Based on the intel I’ve gathered, it’ll be a pick to support Mendoza. That might be a wide receiver or a right tackle, depending on who’s available. Like Ryan mentioned, Boston is a receiver who has been connected to the team.”
Should Raiders Go Offense In Round 2?
The Raiders do seem to be leaning toward offense with their second-round pick, but there’s an argument that they should target a defensive player. The team needs a nose tackle for Rob Leonard’s 3-4 defense.
The Raiders could also use help at cornerback and safety. However, this season is likely going to be more about figuring out how to set up Mendoza for success than trying to fill every need.
Las Vegas knows they aren’t going to win a ton of games in 2026, so they’re building for the future. With that in mind, it makes sense to focus more on building up the offense in the draft and worrying about the defense down the road. The Raiders spent a lot of their free agent money on the defensive side of the ball, which was likely done with the idea that they would focus on offense in the draft.
Other Possible Targets in Round 2
Boston would make a ton of sense for the Raiders. He’s a prototypical X-receiver with his 6-foot-4, which is something the team doesn’t have right now. The problem with him is that there’s a good chance he’ll get selected before the Raiders pick in Round 2.
Reuniting Mendoza with Elijah Sarratt or Omar Cooper Jr. could be appealing. If offensive line is the play, Texas A&M guard Chase Bisontis or Clemson tackle Blake Miller could still be on the board.
Even if the initial hope is to go offense in the second round, Georgia defensive tackle Christen Miller or Texas Tech Lee Hunter being available could change that. Luckily for the Raiders, there should be no shortage of very good options available to them in Round 2.