The Las Vegas Raiders Draft Grade reflects a franchise that may have executed one of the most impressive drafts in the NFL. Armed with the No. 1 overall selection and a clear plan under head coach Klint Kubiak, the Raiders aggressively addressed multiple needs while adding several players capable of becoming long-term starters.
Successful hiring cycle 🤝#RaiderNation | 📰 https://t.co/vwtNcd6ClI pic.twitter.com/CggQbQQ9LJ
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) April 26, 2026
Round 1 (No. 1) Fernando Mendoza – QB, Indiana — Grade: A
Round 2 (No. 38) Treydan Stukes – S, Arizona — Grade: A
Round 3 (No. 67) Keyron Crawford – EDGE, Auburn — Grade: A
Round 3 (No. 91) Trey Zuhn III – C, Texas A&M — Grade: A+
Round 4 (No. 101) Jermod McCoy – CB, Tennessee — Grade: A+
Round 4 (No. 122) Mike Washington Jr. – RB, Arkansas — Grade: A
Round 5 (No. 150) Dalton Johnson – S, Arizona — Grade: C+
Round 5 (No. 175) Hezekiah Masses – CB, California — Grade: B+
Round 6 (No. 195) Malik Benson – WR, Oregon — Grade: B
Round 7 (No. 229) Brandon Cleveland – DL, NC State — Grade: A-
LV Raiders Overall Draft Grade: A
The Raiders entered the 2026 NFL Draft with the easiest decision of the first round. Fernando Mendoza was widely viewed as the top quarterback prospect in the class, and Las Vegas wasted no time making him the face of the franchise.
What separates this draft from many rebuilding efforts is what happened after the first pick.
Las Vegas Raiders continued stacking value throughout the draft. Treydan Stukes and Keyron Crawford immediately upgraded the defense, while Trey Zuhn III and Jermod McCoy may eventually be viewed as two of the biggest steals of the entire draft. McCoy’s slide was largely tied to medical concerns stemming from a torn ACL, but if he returns to full strength, many evaluators believe the Raiders landed a first-round talent in the fourth round.
The organization also added offensive playmakers with Mike Washington Jr. and Malik Benson while continuing to build depth throughout the secondary. Outside of Dalton Johnson’s selection in Round 5, nearly every pick received strong reviews from analysts around the league.
NFL Rookie Minicamp Results
The Raiders hosted rookie minicamp from May 1-3 at the Intermountain Health Performance Center. The event marked the first opportunity for Fernando Mendoza and the rest of the draft class to begin learning Klint Kubiak’s system.
As expected, Mendoza received the majority of the attention. Coaches and observers praised his command of the huddle, confidence, and ability to quickly absorb the offensive playbook. For a player carrying the expectations of a No. 1 overall pick, the early reviews could not have been much better.
On the defensive side of the ball, Treydan Stukes emerged as the biggest winner of the weekend. Coaches consistently placed communication responsibilities on the rookie safety, allowing him to act as the “quarterback” of the defense. The staff reportedly came away impressed with both his leadership and football intelligence.
Cornerback Hezekiah Masses also generated significant buzz. The fifth-round selection flashed athleticism throughout camp and earned additional repetitions with the first-team rotational group during offseason work.
Following minicamp, Las Vegas finalized contracts for most of its rookie class and signed several additional players from the tryout pool, including veteran receiver Brandon Johnson.
The 2026 NFL Draft introduced a new way to collect cards.
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You don’t buy the auto… you enter for it.
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— StatementGames Inc. (@StatementGames) April 25, 2026
Las Vegas Raiders Updated 2026 Win Total Projection
The Raiders enter the 2026 season with a projected win total of 5.5 victories. While that number may appear modest, it represents meaningful progress for a franchise coming off a 3-14 season. More importantly, betting markets have aggressively shifted toward the Over. Most sportsbooks now price the Over 5.5 wins between -145 and -155, signaling strong confidence that Las Vegas will improve under Klint Kubiak.
The optimism begins with Fernando Mendoza. The rookie quarterback joins a room that also includes veteran Kirk Cousins, giving the Raiders stability at the game’s most important position. The offensive line received major upgrades through both free agency and the draft, while the defense added multiple potential starters.
Of course, challenges remain. The AFC West continues to be one of the toughest divisions in football. The Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, and Denver Broncos all carry win-total projections above .500, making divisional games particularly difficult.
Still, reaching six wins feels far more realistic than it did just a few months ago. The Raiders do not need to become a playoff team to exceed expectations. They simply need to show measurable progress from last season. If Mendoza develops quickly and the rookie class performs as advertised, Las Vegas could comfortably exceed the 5.5-win projection and become one of the league’s most improved teams.
ESPN predicts the Raiders to slightly improve in 2026 following an abysmal 2025 campaign along with a couple other more specific predictions.
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— Raiders Wire (@TheRaidersWire) June 4, 2026
Thank you for reading our Las Vegas Raiders draft and rookie mini camp Article. You can read more of my content on my SG Team Author Page. Feel free to connect with me on X (@MarcSaulino) and follow @StatementGames to stay informed about everything relevant our platform.
