Raiders earn high marks for drafting Keyron Crawford in third round

Auburn EDGE rusher Keyron Crawford was selected early in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft by the Las Vegas Raiders and has the chance to thrive in his new home.

Ahead of Day 3 of the NFL draft, USA TODAY Sports' Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz graded every pick from the second and third rounds and labeled the Raiders' selection of Crawford a "B" due to Crawford's potential for success in Las Vegas.

The arrow is pointed up for Crawford, who showed off some promising pass-rush tools last season. The Raiders can be patient with his development, and Maxx Crosby should be a fine mentor.

Having a mentor such as Maxx Crosby, who has 69 1/2 sacks and 29 pass deflections in seven NFL seasons, will be great for Crawford's development as an NFL EDGE rusher. He took a step forward in 2025 by being the Tigers' top EDGE rusher with 36 tackles and five sacks, taking the lead over first-round selection Keldric Faulk, who logged just 29 tackles and two sacks. However, Crawford comes in a smaller frame than Faulk and has only played five seasons of organized football.

Playing in Las Vegas is the best-case scenario for Crawford, and it will be exciting to watch how he develops. Day 3 of the NFL draft is Saturday, and the day could be special for Crawford's Auburn teammates, including Connor Lew and Jeremiah Wright, who are expected to learn their NFL home.