Raiderstation

Obvious Mendoza #1 no consideration of trading that pick.
But who you got picks 2 - 4 thats going to help Mendoza.

#2 Raiders should be able to select WR Chris Bell or WR KC Concepcion with our early 2nd.

#3 I forget who it was, but someone here mentioned that the best pure dominant RT coming out of college could be got in the 3rd. And stated hes played his whole career at RT, and not being moved around the line.

Sounds like solid gets

Id hope the rest of the draft is building the trenches, with maybe 1 DB in there

Who else you like ?

Marzan wrote: Tue Jan 20, 2026 3:02 pm The best offensive lineman available with our second pick. Tackle or guard, we need to double dip both FA and the draft. Mendoza needs protection when he finally starts.

When he finally starts???

SkullCrusher wrote: Tue Jan 20, 2026 1:33 pm I believe FA is in front of drafting, have to see who we get. You get solid OL's that changes the draft. You get a WR to replace what we traded, that changes the draft etc.

Yeah, I'd rather address the OL mostly via free agency. We might find one or two through the draft but obviously it might be hard to draft a day 1 starter in round 2 or later. But acquiring FAs would bring in immediate "plug and play" players who should only consist of the smart and the talented and the ones with who've already proven they can do the job...besides, we have the cap space.

Trainnvain wrote: Tue Jan 20, 2026 11:09 am In the little bit that I saw of them, I thought Omar Cooper looked like the more dynamic/explosive player than Serrat.

Yes you are correct, plus coming into the championship game Serrat had the most drops this season. And he added 2 more drops last night. If we are going WR there are much better WR available in the draft. Id prefer going after WR in the draft vs an expensive free agent

RaiderFan1 wrote: Tue Jan 20, 2026 4:44 pm Yes you are correct, plus coming into the championship game Serrat had the most drops this season. And he added 2 more drops last night. If we are going WR there are much better WR available in the draft. Id prefer going after WR in the draft vs an expensive free agent

I’d prefer Cooper too. He’s kinda Deebo Samuel with his size and YAC ability. Sarratt we have to some degree with Bech. I also like CJ Daniels WR from Miami. At least at this point, they’re projected to go in the 3rd. Which is the highest pick I’d use for the WR room this year.

Attyla wrote: Tue Jan 20, 2026 9:25 am I am not great when it comes to predicting where guys will fall, and so I take the old "best player available" route when answering these types of questions, but it does go deeper than that. Best player available is so subjective so position need does play into it a bit. Mendoza will need a line capable of run blocking and protection. We are going to need to prioritize that in FA and to a degree in the draft. So while I have no idea who will be there when we pick nor do I know who the Raiders scouts are targeting currently, linemen have to be a consideration.


That said, free agency is going to be a consideration before we have a better idea about the draft.

Strongly agree

While I agree need to get oline help,I think we also need an inside linenacker.I dont know if one is worth grabbing in the second or third.I cant take another season of white making tackles 5 yards past the line or blowing coverage

I think Fernando is the only player we should draft from Indiana. Great team, great coach and players w big chips on their shoulders but not many NFL caliber athletes.

Scarpariello wrote: Tue Jan 20, 2026 7:58 pm I think Fernando is the only player we should draft from Indiana. Great team, great coach and players w big chips on their shoulders but not many NFL caliber athletes.

That is pretty short sighted. Carter Smith is an elite tackle who would be a great second round pick although as of now he plans on staying. Cooper is an elite playmaker who is a fantastic route runner with a compact build and 4.45 speed. Pounds is just a warrior at CB with great closing speed. Kamara is quick anexplosuve and had 58 pressures thisnyear while also being strong against the run. Sarratt is going to going to go in the third, although I am not as big on him, he is another elite route runner and very smart against zones although he does run around 4.5. Fisher and Coogan are more effort and intelligence guys, but the will be on NFL teams. Fisher especially could be a core special team guy and run stopping LB, but his lack of ability to.cover limits him.

Vega Ioane in the 2/3rd round.

BPA WR in the 2/3rd round.

mranquales wrote: Tue Jan 20, 2026 8:36 pm Vega Ioane in the 2/3rd round.

I don't think there's any chance that he will be there. If he is and we passed on him, I would be really pissed.

haji81872 wrote: Tue Jan 20, 2026 8:24 pm That is pretty short sighted. Carter Smith is an elite tackle who would be a great second round pick although as of now he plans on staying. Cooper is an elite playmaker who is a fantastic route runner with a compact build and 4.45 speed. Pounds is just a warrior at CB with great closing speed. Kamara is quick anexplosuve and had 58 pressures thisnyear while also being strong against the run. Sarratt is going to going to go in the third, although I am not as big on him, he is another elite route runner and very smart against zones although he does run around 4.5. Fisher and Coogan are more effort and intelligence guys, but the will be on NFL teams. Fisher especially could be a core special team guy and run stopping LB, but his lack of ability to.cover limits him.

We shouldnt target nor avoid Indiana players. If they are BPA at a position we need according to team evaluations then go get them but also dont take someone ahead of others just because they played with Mendoza.

Dr Death wrote: Tue Jan 20, 2026 3:47 pm When he finally starts???

As good as he is, I don’t want him out there unto the offensive line can offer him a decent amount of protection. It takes a while for new offensive linemen to gel and the previous regime didn’t give our rookies enough playing time.

I don’t want Mendoza to have a first season like David Carr’s. I know he’s tough like hell but those hits take their toll on the body.

I want the ugliest, nastiest, ill-intentioned, mauling, road grading, thunderbastard lineman we can get.

If he knows the playbook well enough, we seriously invest in the Oline, and we call a high percentage of running plays there is no reason not to put him out there week 1.

srv5490 wrote: Tue Jan 20, 2026 8:54 pm I don't think there's any chance that he will be there. If he is and we passed on him, I would be really pissed.

He has first round talent. Especially since this will not be a QB draft so the artificially inflated position will not have a big first round rush.