Raiders bold predictions for 2026 NFL Draft class during rookie season

The Las Vegas Raiders have had an eventful draft season. Of course, with the first overall pick, the Raiders’ draft season was always going to be heavily watched by fans and analysts. However, it’s also worth noting that Las Vegas’ draft haul isn’t just about the quality of players, but also the quantity.

The Raiders ended the 2026 NFL Draft with 10 new players. While not all of these players will make the final 53-man roster, it’s fair to assume that most of them will be counted on to make an impact on their new team. Let’s make some predictions about this roster and what they’ll be doing in the upcoming 2026 season.

Fernando Mendoza will not start in 2026

In the months leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft, it was an open secret that the Raiders were going to select Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick. The Raiders have not had a franchise quarterback since Derek Carr, who left the team in 2022. Mendoza, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner and quarterback of the undefeated 2025 Indiana Hoosiers, seemed like the perfect fit.

The Raiders stayed true to their goals, picking Mendoza first overall in the draft. However, just days before the draft, the Raiders made an intriguing move, signing veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins. Why would Las Vegas sign a veteran like Cousins, knowing they were about to draft Mendoza?

That move signals one thing: that the Raiders are ready for Mendoza to sit out a good chunk of the 2026 season. We can even go so far to say that Mendoza won’t suit up as a starter this year. It’s not an indictment of Mendoza’s talents, but rather a sound decision from Las Vegas. New head coach Klint Kubiak’s system has a lot of differences from the offense that Mendoza ran with Curt Cignetti. He’ll need time to learn the intricacies of playing under center and reading the defense on play-action passes.

Cousins, having played under a similar under-center-heavy system with Kevin O’Connell, will be able to take the starting role for the year. That will allow Mendoza to learn without being pressured to win games immediately.

Malik Benson becomes a constant for the Raiders

While the Raiders already got Mendoza, there’s still a major gap in the offense that needs to be filled. Mendoza will have the electric Ashton Jeanty in the backfield with him and Brock Bowers at tight end, but their wide receiver group leaves a lot to be desired so far. They did sign underrated Vikings WR Jalen Nailor this offseason, but they still need a few more pieces to be a threatening group.

Many thought that the Raiders would draft another wide receiver in the second round, especially after Denzel Boston fell to their laps. Instead, Las Vegas waited until the sixth round to get another wide-out: Oregon standout Malik Benson.

Benson, who faced Mendoza in the CFP semi-finals last year, has a real chance of becoming a constant piece for the Raiders. One of the fastest wide receivers in the combine, Benson’s biggest asset is his speed and his big-play potential. The Oregon wide receiver will get a lot of looks, especially in Kubiak’s offense. Don’t be surprised if Benson becomes the WR3 for the Raiders in the middle of the season.

Jermod McCoy makes the All-Rookie Team

One of the reasons why the Raiders came out as the biggest winners of the 2026 NFL Draft is that they were the beneficiaries of the biggest draft slide of the class. Las Vegas was able to pick up Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy in the fourth round of the draft, a massive steal for multiple reasons.

McCoy was originally slated to be a top-10 pick in this year’s draft class. Some even considered him to be better than LSU CB Mansoor Delane, who was the first cornerback taken in the draft. However, a surprise report about McCoy’s injury led him to fall way down the board. The Raiders were fortunate enough to see the cornerback fall to Day 3.

The concerns about his knee are serious: the reports are saying that McCoy has a degenerative knee problem. He might also require another surgery soon. However, McCoy’s talent cannot be denied: in his last full season with the Vols, McCoy proved to be one of the best players in the nation. Expect McCoy to make a recovery before the start of the 2026 season.

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