The Raiders’ best, worst picks from the 2026 NFL Draft

Best In Class

• Jermod McCoy
• Mike Washington Jr.
• Brandon Cleveland

Las Vegas traded up with Buffalo to kick off the fourth round and took an excellent risk/reward flier on Tennessee’s McCoy. Sure, there’s concern with the Volunteers’ knee — not the ACL tear, but the bone plug used to repair cartilage and meniscus — but pick 101 is a solid spot to take a risk. At just 20 years old (21 on August 16), the Raiders can be patient with McCoy in terms of getting back to a clean bill of health and if he returns to form, the cornerback gives the team a defender comfortable in all types of coverage (excels in press man). He’s sticky in coverage, aggressive and (actually) turns to find the ball, and has takeaway artist skills with explosive speed.

The Raiders’ need for speed was only amplified just 21 picks later when the team drafted Arkansas running back Washington Jr. Both big (6-foot-1 and 233 pounds) and fast (4.33-second 40-yard dash time at the NFL Combine), this Razorback will remind many of a former Arkansas tailback the Silver & Black drafted much higher (Darren McFadden). An ideal back for the wide zone head coach Klint Kubiak is installing, Washington is going to be the “thunder” as a complementary back to workhorse Ashton Jeanty. But with that home run speed, Washington may be equal parts “lightning” too.

Lastly, a run-stuffing nose tackle didn’t arrive until pick 229, but the one Las Vegas got is a 6-foot-3 and 307-pound stout anchor in Cleveland. Able to dig in and use his lower body strength with shocking upper body power, Cleveland is built take on double teams and control the gap he’s assigned to. As a nose tackle, his sack numbers aren’t high but Cleveland can push the pocket and get in the backfield to disrupt an offense’s timing.

Needs Work

• Keyron Crawford
• Dalton Johnson

With Las Vegas shipping off Tyree Wilson, the selection of Crawford in the third round went from luxury to ample opportunity. Able to translate speed to power and vice versa, the Auburn product has a very high ceiling as an edge rusher — likely a standup rush linebacker for the Raiders — and comes into the league with good bend and pursuit. But he’ll need to develop counter moves, become a consistent run stuffer, and refine his tackling technique as he grows in Las Vegas. Very much in the same camp of rawness as Maxx Crosby when the veteran arrived, Crawford does have an excellent mentor and role model in front of him. And he has the makings of a special teams maniac in Year 1.

Johnson, meanwhile, reunites with his Wildcat tag team partner Stukes, and brings a strong ability to rack up tackles. Unlike his Arizona teammate, though, Johnson hasn’t been a consistent deep-zone defender and is best used near the line of scrimmage in the box or as short-zone read-and-react defender who can use his instincts and keep plays in front of him. The fifth-round safety does have the demeanor and physicality to be a special teams standout and that’s Johnson’s immediate path to a 53-man roster spot.

Don’t Sleep On

• Hezekiah Masses
• Malik Benson

Masses marked the fourth defensive back taken by the Silver & Black and the Cal product arrives as an experienced special teamer who can bolster the kick and punt coverage units. Standing nearly 6-foot-1 and 179 pounds, Masses can play both press man and off-man coverages and can disrupt a passing game with pass deflections or interceptions. Pick 175 is an ample spot to take a corner that can play special teams right away while developing into an NFL cover man.

Like with the nose tackle spot, the Raiders didn’t address wide receiver until 195 selections deep with the sixth-round nabbing of Benson. Like Masses ahead of him, Benson should compete immediately for a special teams role as a return man as the Oregon product averaged nearly 18 yards on punt returns with the Ducks. A scintillating track athlete with 4.37 speed and ability to play every wide receiver alignment, Benson gives Las Vegas another deep threat to combine with Tre Tucker, Dont’e Thornton Jr., and Shedrick Jackson.