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Every team is excited about their incoming class of rookies, but how will those new players affect each team in 2026?
Let's look at the Las Vegas Raiders, breaking down the most likely instant-impact rookies from their class while also providing some insight into why certain early picks may not see the field.
Las Vegas Raiders 2026 Draft Class: Which Rookies Will Make an Impact?
The Raiders made the correct decision to select Fernando Mendoza (first round) given the lack of quarterback talent in this class and their desperate need for hope at the position. That said, Mendoza does not have the typical profile of a No. 1 overall pick due to his modest arm strength and lack of mobility. The NFL has mostly abandoned pure pocket passers, partially because it takes longer for them to develop the elite processing skills needed to consistently win from the pocket without the threat of making off-script plays on the move. Mendoza’s development is on the right track to succeed as a pocket passer, but don’t expect high-level results immediately.
The strongest point on Mendoza’s scouting report is his accuracy. However, 73% of Mendoza’s throws came from inside the pocket without pressure, the sixth-highest rate. When pressure did get to Mendoza, he was frequently rattled, and his 21% sack rate against pressure (ranked 60th out of 78 power-conference quarterbacks) should concern the Raiders. Mendoza can be the Raiders' long-term answer at quarterback, but he’ll need a strong offensive line and plenty of weapons around him to help hide those deficiencies.
Treydan Stukes (second round) made 38 starts over six years at Arizona and is ready to start immediately in the nickel corner role. However, the Raiders just traded for Taron Johnson this offseason, so it’s unclear how Stukes fits into their plans. Stukes has the length, ball-hawk skills, and athletic traits to potentially play in the deep secondary, but he's never consistently lined up at free safety in the past.
Keyron Crawford (third round) will provide depth on the edge in the short term, but could step into a starting role if Maxx Crosby is traded at some point during the 2026 season. Crawford is an explosive pass rusher who tends to win with speed, but is still developing his strength against the run. When quarterbacks took a traditional dropback, Crawford generated an impressive 20% pressure rate last year, a good sign for his potential to make an impact on passing downs in the pros.
Trey Zuhn III (fourth round) started 50 career games at Texas A&M and is viewed as a potential five-position backup, giving him significant value even if he never develops into a long-term starter. Jermod McCoy (fourth round) was worth the gamble on Day 3 given his traits, but it's impossible to guess what the Raiders will get out of him given his knee injury. Players fall to the second round due to injury concerns somewhat regularly, but in my 23 years covering the draft, I can’t recall someone getting top-10 hype plummet into the fourth round due to an injury concern. Unlike McCoy, Hezekiah Masses (fifth round) flashed elite ball-hawk skills in college and has the traits to potentially be a Day 3 steal for the Raiders. Masses stepped up a level in competition from FIU to California last year and generated a ball-hawk rate 74% above expected.
Mike Washington Jr. (fourth round) received too much hype after his Combine performance, but the fourth round is an appropriate spot to take a chance on his athletic traits. Washington’s rare size/speed combination sets a high ceiling for his production as Ashton Jeanty’s backup, but he needs to avoid negative plays to earn snaps. Dalton Johnson (fifth round) will provide depth at safety while playing a critical role on special teams. Malik Benson (sixth round) was the nation’s top wide receiver recruit in 2023 due to his elite speed, but he bounced from Alabama to Florida State to Oregon during his three years in college, failing to make a substantial impact anywhere. Expectations should be low, but Benson’s traits were worth a flier late in the draft. Brandon Cleveland (seventh round) is a capable run defender on the interior defensive line but lacks the athletic traits to get after the quarterback. He’ll compete for a roster spot and hope to see some snaps at nose tackle.
This was a strong class for the Raiders, which potentially features five future starters, but everything hinges on Mendoza’s development. For that reason, it was surprising and disappointing to see them put off drafting a receiver until the sixth round.
This analysis continues in the 2026 Football Preview
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