• The Raiders should continue to rebuild the WR corps: Jack Bech and Dont’e Thornton have not been highly productive as rookies. While this should not preclude them from being part of the long-term plan, their presence should not discourage Las Vegas from considering a top talent at the position.

• Defense needs to be improved at every level: Maxx Crosby remains a top talent, but he needs help on the interior, and the back end needs multiple new pieces for 2026.

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For many fans, the writing is already on the wall for their teams’ seasons, and it’s time to look to the future. That means getting an early look at the 2026 NFL draft class, and PFF is here to help. Each week, we’ll take an early mock-draft focus on two new teams, and the 2-10 Las Vegas Raiders are next.

They’ll pick fifth in this exercise based on where we’ve seeded teams in prior weeks, but in reality, the Raiders are very much in play for the first overall selection.

This is not meant to be a predictive exercise — we aren’t close to knowing the actual draft order — but rather an introduction to expected team needs and potential targets. Think of it this way: this is the one series you can afford to wait on for your team, because the longer it takes for them to appear, the better they are performing on the field this season.

Round 1, Pick 5: WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State

Tate will need to prove he has the speed typically expected of a top-10 selection if he is to go this high, but his stellar 2025 campaign and Ohio State pedigree are sure to be enticing to the Raiders.

Twenty-nine of his 44 receptions this season have gone for first downs, and another eight have resulted in touchdowns for the Buckeyes. He uses his 6-foot-3, 195-pound frame exceptionally well, having secured 12 of 14 contested targets thrown his way this year.

Round 2, Pick 37: DI Christen Miller, Georgia

The Raiders should be looking to address the defensive interior in both free agency and the draft this offseason, and Miller has produced the kind of all-around performance currently missing from the roster.

In both 2024 and 2025 with the Bulldogs, he has posted a pass-rush win rate above 10.0% and earned positive grades on more than 20.0% of run plays.

Round 3, Pick 69: CB Chris Johnson, San Diego State

Johnson has been one of the most productive defensive backs at the catch point.

Opposing quarterbacks have targeted him 45 times and completed just 18 passes for 185 yards — with no touchdowns. He has recorded four interceptions and forced another 10 incompletions.

Round 4, Pick 105: C Connor Lew, Auburn

With Jackson Powers-Johnson converting to guard this season before an ankle injury sent him to injured reserve, the Raiders are without a true long-term solution at center. Lew would have been in the mix for first-round consideration had he not torn his ACL against Missouri in October, and while his 2026 availability is uncertain, he would still represent solid value for Las Vegas here.

Across a combined 656 pass-protection snaps between 2024 and 2025, Lew surrendered just three sacks and no hits.

Round 5, Pick 131: S Isaac Smith, Mississippi State

Smith has had a stellar 2025 campaign in coverage, allowing just five receptions on 14 targets with one interception and four forced incompletions.

He has also been strong against the run, producing 11 stops with only two missed tackles.