Raiders 7-round mock draft: Fernando Mendoza joined by Indiana WR in Las Vegas

Ayrton Ostly, USA TODAYThu, April 2, 2026 at 10:06 AM UTC

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Raiders 7-round mock draft: Fernando Mendoza joined by Indiana WR in Las Vegas

In the final week of college Pro Days, all eyes were on Bloomington, Indiana for the final showcase by Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza.

The Hoosiers’ star quarterback is widely expected to be the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Las Vegas Raiders are slated for the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft for just the second time in franchise history.

Their previous No. 1 overall selection was one of the biggest busts in NFL draft history: quarterback JaMarcus Russell in 2007. They’re hoping Mendoza will be a different story.

But it’s not just the Hoosier passer who will usher in the Klint Kubiak era in Las Vegas.

The Raiders spent a lot of money in free agency to upgrade the team ahead of Mendoza’s very likely arrival. Tyler Linderbaum reset the center market with a massive deal and Las Vegas added defensive end Kwity Paye as well as linebackers Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean on defense.

In addition to those free agent signees, the Raiders are slated for 10 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. Mendoza is a lock for No. 1 overall but it’s to be determined from there.

Here’s our prediction for the rest of the Raiders’ draft:

Las Vegas Raiders mock draftRound 1, No. 1 overall: QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana

This is a done deal. Mendoza will make the journey from Bloomington to Sin City to give the Raiders their best passer since Derek Carr left in 2023. He’s reminiscent of Joe Burrow with a prototypical frame (6-foot-5 and 236 pounds). Mendoza thrives with his quick release, accuracy, timing and football IQ. He’s a better prospect than either of the first-round quarterbacks selected last year, with a high floor.

Round 2, No. 36 overall: CB Chris Johnson, San Diego State

This is where the fun begins. Johnson is a scheme-versatile small-school cornerback who put on a show in 2025 with the Aztecs. He ran well enough at the NFL Combine to dispel any concerns about his athleticism.

Free agency addressed the front and linebacking corps in Las Vegas. None of the starting cornerbacks are good enough to prevent the team from investing in the position at the top of Round 2. Johnson could be a starter for years to come.

Round 3, No. 67 overall: WR Elijah Sarratt, Indiana

Burrow got his teammate Ja’Marr Chase to follow him to Cincinnati a year later. Las Vegas could have the opportunity for something similar, as Sarratt could follow Mendoza to the Raiders.

Las Vegas signed Jalen Nailor and Dareke Young in free agency and has vertical threats Tre Tucker and Dont’e Thornton Jr. on the roster. Sarratt relies less on athleticism and more on finding spaces to exploit in zone coverage. He’s a plus run blocker, too, which should bode well for 2025 top pick Ashton Jeanty.

Round 4, No. 102 overall: S Jalon Kilgore, South Carolina

At time of publishing, the Raiders have just three safeties on the roster. Las Vegas could take a cue from the Seahawks’ defense in 2025 and get a player with the right mix of size and experience playing at nickel and safety.

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He’s not a Nick Emmanwori clone, but he could play a similar role, providing good run defense and solid ball production in coverage from the nickel or safety spot. His coverage skills will need more development to reach the NFL level, but the tools are there.

Round 4, No. 117 overall: Edge Anthony Lucas, USC

Maxx Crosby is a Raider (for now) after the trade saga. He can’t be the team’s only pass rush threat, though. Paye is solid but the team could use more.

Lucas stands 6-foot-5 and 256 pounds but with the wingspan to offer inside-out versatility as an edge rusher. He can set the edge in run defense thanks to his length which would help what was the league’s 17th-ranked run defense in 2025. He’s already developing pass-rush moves and could continue to improve with time.

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Round 4, No. 134 overall: DT DeMonte Capehart, Clemson

Capehart put on a show at the NFL Combine with outstanding athletic test results (33½-inch vertical jump, 4.85-second 40-yard dash) for his size at 6-foot-5 and 313 pounds. He’s a bit of a question mark due to his inexperience. He played alongside top-50 picks Peter Woods and T.J. Parker in Clemson which may have kept him from putting up big numbers.

Regardless of his experience, he has elite athletic tools for his size. He relies on power to win for now, but like Lucas, could develop over time.

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Round 5, No. 175 overall: CB Jadon Canady, Oregon

Johnson’s signing doesn’t preclude the Raiders from finding a potential nickel cornerback to develop in this year’s draft. Canady could be their guy. He measures in at 5-foot-10 and 181 pounds with a physical presence and ideal play recognition skills at this point in his career. His short arms may be what ultimately keep him in the nickel long-term.

Round 6, No. 185 overall: RB Adam Randall, Clemson

Jeanty’s lone knock coming out of Boise State was his lack of elite speed. He showed, even in a bad year for the Raiders’ offense in 2025, that he has the makings of a top running back.

Kubiak came from a two-back offense in Seattle with Zach Charbonnet and Kenneth Walker III. Randall can grow into a rotational back who spells Jeanty and brings great speed (4.50-second 40-yard dash) in a big body (6-foot-3, 232 pounds). He is a converted wide receiver, which gives him returner value and could be a versatile piece for Kubiak in the offense.

Round 6, No. 208 overall: Edge Caden Curry, Ohio State

The Raiders’ pass rush could use even more help because the team finished 30th in pressure rate (28.0%) in 2025. A late-round flyer on a breakout player in 2025 could be a good move.

Curry relies on his lower-body power to get a good burst off the line. He managed 12 sacks and 46 total pressures in 2025; he had four and 26 in the prior three years combined. He’d be a rotational edge rusher early on as he learns better technique and gets more snaps under his belt.

Round 7, No. 219 overall: DT Bobby Jamison-Travis, Auburn

Capehart is an athletic presence on the interior and the Raiders could get a skillset to balance that out with Jamison-Travis. The Auburn product brings impressive length (6-foot-3, with an 83-inch wingspan) and should be an immediate help in run defense. He’s purely an early-down nosetackle at this point in his career but the Raiders could use more imposing run defenders in the middle in this stage of the rebuild.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 NFL mock draft: Raiders land Fernando Mendoza, Indiana teammate

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