Raiders Hold the No. 1 Pick - And the Weight of a Franchise Rebuild
The Super Bowl confetti has barely settled in Las Vegas, but for the Raiders, the focus has already shifted. The 2026 NFL Draft looms large, and with the No. 1 overall pick in hand, the franchise stands at a pivotal crossroads - one that could define the next decade of Raiders football.
This isn’t just about adding talent. It’s about finding identity, stability, and a long-term direction.
After a 2025 season that spiraled from early promise to a league-worst finish, Las Vegas is now staring down a full-scale reset. And with a new leadership structure in place - headlined by Klint Kubiak taking the reins - the stakes couldn’t be higher.
The Fallout From 2025
Last season was a tough watch for Raiders fans. Injuries piled up.
The offense, initially led by Geno Smith, sputtered. The run game lacked explosiveness.
And while the defense had its moments - thanks to some standout individual performances - it never found consistent rhythm. By midseason, the narrative shifted from playoff hopes to player evaluations, and the organization began laying the groundwork for a new era.
That groundwork now leads directly to April’s draft - and the first overall pick.
All Eyes on Mendoza
There’s little mystery about what direction the Raiders might go at the top of the board. Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza has emerged as the overwhelming favorite to hear his name called first. And for good reason.
Mendoza isn’t just a Heisman Trophy winner and National Champion - he’s the type of quarterback who brings both production and presence. His accuracy is elite, particularly in the red zone, and his decision-making under pressure has evaluators buzzing. He’s not a dual-threat burner, but what he lacks in raw athleticism, he makes up for in toughness, poise, and command.
Put simply: Mendoza looks like the kind of player who can reset a franchise’s trajectory. And for a Raiders locker room in need of leadership and identity, he checks just about every box.
Draft analysts are already calling this pick a lock - “penciled in with permanent marker,” as one put it. But while Mendoza might be the headline, the rest of the draft class will determine whether this rebuild gains traction or stalls out before it begins.
Day Two: Where the Draft Gets Interesting
Assuming Mendoza is the pick at No. 1, the Raiders will head into Day Two with a different kind of pressure - building the infrastructure around their new quarterback and shoring up a defense that needs help at every level.
One of the most popular names linked to Vegas in Round 2 is Arkansas cornerback Julian Neal. At 6-foot-2, Neal brings the length, physicality, and press-man skills that are essential in a division loaded with elite quarterbacks and dynamic wideouts. He’s a tone-setter on the perimeter - the kind of player who can disrupt timing routes and challenge vertical threats.
The Raiders have neglected the cornerback position for too long. Neal could change that in a hurry.
Another name to watch is Akheem Mesidor, the edge rusher out of Miami. He’s one of the more polarizing prospects in this class - a high-motor disruptor with violent hands and inside-out versatility, but also an older rookie at 25.
That age factor has some teams questioning his long-term ceiling. Still, his production stacks up with some of the top edge rushers in this class.
For a team like the Raiders, who need immediate impact on the defensive front, Mesidor might be worth the gamble. He’s the kind of boom-or-bust swing that could pay off big if he hits.
Potential Depth Plays
If Las Vegas decides to double-dip in the secondary, Arizona State’s Keith Abney II is a name that keeps popping up in mock drafts. He’s not as big as Neal, but his man-coverage skills and positional flexibility make him an intriguing option. Abney can line up in the slot or on the boundary, giving the Raiders some much-needed versatility in sub-packages.
Then there’s Missouri linebacker Josiah Trotter - a downhill thumper who mirrors the physical, no-nonsense style of his father, former Pro Bowler Jeremiah Trotter. He’s not a modern three-down linebacker, but he brings value as a situational run-stopper. For a front seven that needs more grit and edge, Trotter could be a perfect fit.
Building Around the Pick
Mendoza may be the face of this draft, but the Raiders’ success will hinge on what they do beyond that first selection. They need to protect him.
They need to surround him with playmakers. And they need to build a defense that can hold its own in a division that features some of the league’s most dangerous offenses.
That means investing in the offensive line. It means upgrading the secondary. It means finding rotational pass rushers who can help close out games.
The Raiders hold the most powerful card in the draft - the No. 1 pick. But how they play the rest of their hand will determine whether this offseason is remembered as the start of something special, or just another chapter in a long rebuild.
One thing’s certain: the spotlight is on Las Vegas. And this time, it’s not for the show. It’s for the future.