The Las Vegas Raiders are positioned to accelerate their rebuild with at least 10 picks in the upcoming NFL draft, including the No. 1 overall selection. The team currently has eight picks, but compensatory selections in the fourth and fifth rounds will bring the total to 10, pending the NFL’s announcement in March.
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is widely expected to be the choice at No. 1, barring a major surprise. That would address the most critical need for a franchise that has been searching for a long-term answer under center.
Beyond the first round, the Raiders have significant holes across the roster. Offensive line, defensive line, linebacker and wide receiver are high priorities. The team is expected to use free agency to address the offensive line, but if that fails, the second round could bring a tackle like Texas’ Trevor Goosby, Northwestern’s Caleb Tiernan or Iowa’s Gennings Dunker.
In the third round, with all three starting linebackers set to hit free agency, Georgia’s CJ Allen and Texas’ Anthony Hill Jr. are potential targets. Wide receiver is also a need, with Indiana’s Elijah Sarratt and Georgia’s Zachariah Branch — a former Bishop Gorman standout — among the options.
The Raiders hold three fourth-round picks (Nos. 102, 117 and a compensatory pick at No. 134). That depth could yield players like Michigan linebacker Jaishawn Barham, Cincinnati defensive tackle Dontay Corleone, Florida offensive tackle Austin Barber, Ohio State edge rusher Caden Curry, Utah linebacker Lander Barton, Georgia Tech offensive lineman Keylan Rutledge or Auburn offensive tackle Jeremiah Wright.
In the fifth round, the Raiders pick at No. 175, a compensatory selection that offsets the loss of their own fifth-rounder sent to Cleveland for quarterback Kenny Pickett. Possible targets include Alabama safety Keon Sabb, Ohio State edge rusher Kenyatta Jackson and Washington cornerback Tacario Davis.
The sixth round brings two picks (Nos. 180 and 183), where Stanford cornerback Collin Wright, Oklahoma linebacker Kendal Daniels, BYU linebacker Jack Kelly and Texas Tech wide receiver Caleb Douglas are possibilities. The seventh-round pick at No. 219 could be used on Michigan cornerback Jyaire Hill, North Dakota State offensive lineman Liam Becher or Wake Forest offensive tackle Fa’alili Fa’amoe.
The Raiders also acquired a fourth-round pick from Jacksonville in the Jakobi Meyers trade and a sixth-rounder in the same deal. The deadline for underclassmen to declare for the draft is Wednesday, extended to Jan. 23 for players at Miami and Indiana who are in the College Football Playoff championship game.
