The Las Vegas Raiders spent a lot of money in the offseason to shore up a plethora of roster holes, but the 2026 NFL draft will be a huge step in the team's rebuild.
The Las Vegas Raiders approached this offseason thoughtfully for what feels like the first time in ages, and that doesn’t just mean spending tons of money.
Spending over $281 million in free agency certainly plays a role in the thoughtful approach, but that money could’ve been spent poorly. While the free agents brought in are expected to make a large impact on the organization over the next few years as the team rebuilds, there’s no telling how the players will mesh together and if their individual success will result in winning.
It’s the fact that the organization has a plan in place to raise the Raiders up the totem pole. The franchise’s brass is on the same page and working together to bring its vision to light. General Manager John Spytek and new head coach Klint Kubiak are well-connected and that hasn’t been the case with the most recent head coaches and former GM.
If the Raiders can hit on several draft picks not named Fernando Mendoza, it could set the Raiders up for immediate success. That doesn’t have to mean making the playoffs, although that is obviously the goal at the end of the day, but seeing Mendoza cook with some protection in front of him and watching the offense be at least average instead of scoring 14 points per game would be multiple steps in the right direction.
Of course, if you can’t stop the other team from scoring, it’s not going to matter how many points you score. That’s why it’s important for the Raiders to draft well to fill some remaining roster holes, and that needs to be done on defense.
Las Vegas totally improved its linebacker room after bringing in former Green Bay Packer Quay Walker and former Philadelphia Eagle Nakobe Dean, and signing defensive end Kwity Paye to support star edge rusher Maxx Crosby (who could still be traded, but he’s a Raider for the time being) adds another threat to the defensive line, but the interior still needs to be addressed.
ESPN’s Matt Bowen believed Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald would be the perfect fit for the Raiders and the franchise could select him with the 36th overall pick.
“…Las Vegas should look to upgrade the interior of its D-line with McDonald, who can play the nose tackle spot under new coordinator Rob Leonard,” Bowen wrote Tuesday.
“With more range than a transitional nose tackle, McDonald is a true run game disruptor. He uses his foot quickness and power to make splash plays, leading to 17 tackles at or behind the line of scrimmage in 2025. McDonald also had three sacks and two forced fumbles.”
McDonald’s strength is truly off the charts and his effectiveness as a run-stopper can partially be attributed to that. He’s a smart player and despite having shorter arms than many scouts would prefer, McDonald is great with his hands and is exceptional at winning one-on-one battles.
Adding a hard-nosed defender to the D-line is exactly what the Raiders need and if he’s available at No. 36, this one seems like a no-brainer.