The Raiders select Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in Pro Football Focus’ most recent 2026 NFL Mock Draft. After that they have Las Vegas shoring up the trenches.
Mendoza is almost uniformly projected to be the No. 1 pick in the draft. The Raiders dealt quarterback Geno Smith in addition to a 2026 seventh-round pick to the New York Jets in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick on March 10. Aidan O’Connell is the only quarterback on the roster at the present.
According to PFF’s Gordon McGuiness, the Raiders go with Mendoza at No. 1 overall in the draft.
”While free agency can change a lot of teams’ draft directions, the Raiders should be locked in on Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick,” McGuinness said. “The Indiana passer produced a 5.7% big-time throw rate in 2025, compared to just a 2.6% turnover-worthy play rate, on his way to earning an elite 91.6 PFF overall grade for the season.”
Mendoza threw for 3,535 yards in 2025 for Hoosiers. He led the FBS in passing touchdowns with 41. The Raiders build around Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft as a result of this projection.
Las Vegas also selects Oregon left guard Emmanuel Pregnon at No. 36 overall, followed by Iowa State defensive lineman Domonique Orange at No. 67 overall.
Pregnon did not allow a single sack in 2025. He also allowed just three pressures last season. Orange recorded one sack as well as five tackles for loss in his last two seasons at Iowa State from 2024-25.
This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: Raiders bulk up the trenches in latest PFF Mock Draft