The Las Vegas Raiders have clear needs at quarterback and in the trenches on both sides of the ball. They address those needs in this three-round mock draft from PFF.
We are just over two months away from the 2026 National Football League draft, meaning it is mock draft season.
Pro Football Focus (PFF) recently published their first three-round mock draft and it’s no secret who the Las Vegas Raiders are selecting with the No. 1 pick. PFF’s Gordon McGuinness, along with everyone else, has the Raiders taking Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
Mendoza was outstanding all season long and his brilliant play resulted in a Heisman Trophy and National Championship. He led all of college football with 41 passing touchdowns, 27 of which came in the red zone and without an interception, and QB rating (90.3).
He displayed terrific football IQ and showed both physical and mental toughness, helping lead his team to a perfect undefeated season.
“At this point, there is little debate about whether the Raiders will use the No. 1 overall pick on Mendoza,” McGuinness wrote Monday. “The Indiana quarterback posted a 5.7% big-time throw rate and a 2.6% turnover-worthy play rate in 2025, helping him earn a 91.6 PFF overall grade for the season.”
Mendoza had the poise of a 20-year veteran and completed 72 percent of his passes, the fourth-best mark in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). He is easily the top QB prospect in the draft and will be a Raider soon enough.
McGuinness then has the Raiders selecting Texas Tech defensive lineman Lee Hunter with the 36th overall pick, adding a dominant force to the defense.
Hunter is incredibly strong and always has the edge when it comes to leverage. He stays balanced and moves quite fast for a player of his size. Hunter figures to be an early second-round pick but could be selected as a late first-rounder. He does struggle in certain situations and is considered an early-down player, but the right coaching will fix that.
With the 67th overall pick, McGuinness projects the Raiders will select offensive tackle Blake Miller out of Clemson.
Miller, like Hunter, would instantly improve the trenches for a team that got beat at the line of scrimmage way too often last season. Miller was durable at Clemson, starting 54 games for the Tigers at right tackle. He possesses quick feet and long arms that make it tough to get around him but his technique is lacking at times.
Adding Miller would give Mendoza two solid tackles to protect his blindsides – and they would have the same last name. Kolton Miller is one of the National Football League’s most underrated left tackles and graded very well prior to his season-ending injury last season.
This would be a strong way for Las Vegas to start their draft as they enter a rebuild under a brand-new coaching staff looking to add a plethora of talent to their young core of playmakers.