The Raiders keep finding themselves at the center of offseason conversation, and one of the more intriguing threads now points all the way ahead to 2027.
On Monday’s edition of “First Draft,” ESPN draft analysts Mel Kiper and Field Yates rolled out a way-too-early 2027 mock draft and had Las Vegas picking at No. 5. Their choice for the Raiders: Texas edge rusher Colin Simmons.
Simmons has already built a strong case as one of the top prospects in that class. At 6-foot-3 and 246 pounds, he put together a big 2025 season with 12 sacks, three forced fumbles, and two pass deflections. That kind of production is why he’s viewed as a consensus top-10 pick right now, even if that standing can still change before the draft arrives.
The fit for Las Vegas starts with the uncertainty around Maxx Crosby. The Raiders and the Baltimore Ravens were tied to an agreed-upon trade involving Crosby that never went through, and while the specifics have been covered plenty already, the fact remains that the team has technically seen Crosby moved, even if the deal was never finalized.
Crosby and the Raiders are headed into the season together, but that doesn’t guarantee the partnership lasts the whole way. Las Vegas is widely seen as a rebuilding team, with a rookie quarterback and a first-year head coach stepping into the mix. Even with a roster that has improved, it still doesn’t sit among the AFC’s elite, and the schedule is one of the toughest in the league.
That creates the kind of scenario where the Raiders could be making tough decisions by the middle of the season. If things go sideways, general manager John Spytek could listen on the 28-year-old pass rusher.
In that case, adding Simmons would make plenty of sense. The Texas defensive end has the kind of elite upside that could help Las Vegas restock the pass rush and bring an immediate impact in 2027.
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