Raiders draft 2026: Needs tiers

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 24: General manager John Spytek of the Las Vegas Raiders speaks to the media during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 24, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) | Getty Images

With the NFL draft being held this week, let’s rank the Las Vegas Raider’s draft needs is tiers. We will exclude quarterback and since it’s widely expected Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza will be the No. 1 overall pick by the team.

Let’s go:

Early rounds:

Wide receiver, defensive tackle, safety

We’re talking rounds 2-3 here. The exact time to pounce will depend on the board and if the Raiders don’t make trades, they can only address two of these needs Friday. So, one need may slide to early Saturday. Raiders’ general manager John Spytek has said this safety class is deep and teams may be able to add to the position in the latter rounds. So, that is something to keep in mind.

Mid rounds:

Linebacker, cornerback, pass-rusher

An argument could be made for a Day Two selection of a cornerback and pass-rush would likely be the last of these needs to be addressed. But with three fourth-round picks (No. 102, 117, 134), Las Vegas can feel a lot of needs here.

Late rounds:

Running back, developmental quarterback, kicker

We’re talking the final two rounds where Las Vegas currently owns two picks in the sixth round and one in the seventh round. All of these areas could be addressed in the form of high-priority undrafted free agents.

How would you rank the Raider’s draft needs?

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