Raiders 2026 – Las Vegas adds 10 rookies headlined by Fernando Mendoza and expects Kirk Cousins to start while the new class develops—plus Malik Benson and Jermod McCoy’s big upside.
The Las Vegas Raiders’ 2026 NFL Draft wasn’t just about adding talent—it was about building a timeline.
With the first overall pick. the franchise selected quarterback Fernando Mendoza. a Heisman-winning signal-caller fresh off an undefeated 2025 season at Indiana.. For a fan base still chasing stability at the position. the move looked like a clear message: this is the quarterback the Raiders want to anchor the next era.. But the Raiders didn’t stop at drafting their future—they also set up the conditions for it to mature.
That context became even more obvious when Las Vegas signed veteran Kirk Cousins shortly before the draft.. On the surface. it raised the question many teams face when they invest heavily in a rookie quarterback: why bring in an established starter if the plan is to turn the keys over immediately?. The likely answer is patience.. Misryoum believes the Cousins signing points to Mendoza learning rather than being rushed. especially with a new coaching staff and a system that can demand quick adaptation.
Under head coach Klint Kubiak, the Raiders’ offensive approach comes with distinct differences from the quarterback’s recent environment.. Mendoza will need to absorb how the playbook communicates from under center. how the cadence sets up play-action. and how defensive looks translate into reads at the snap.. A season spent letting the game slow down can be the difference between flashes of promise and consistent production.. Cousins. familiar with a similar under-center-heavy structure. can provide stability in the meantime—taking reps. managing game flow. and giving the rookie time to develop without carrying weekly pressure.
The Raiders’ draft story also revolves around the supporting cast they’re shaping around Mendoza.. Misryoum expects the offense to look modern on paper—especially with Ashton Jeanty in the backfield and Brock Bowers at tight end—yet wide receiver remains the area where the roster still needs to prove it can create reliable separation and make contested catches matter.. Las Vegas did add Jalen Nailor, a move that suggests the Raiders want speed and playmaking in the passing game.. Still. the receiver room can’t be built on one bet. particularly if Mendoza is expected to grow into a full-time starter.
That’s where Malik Benson enters the conversation.. Las Vegas waited until the sixth round to land Oregon’s Benson after other receiver expectations didn’t play out the way fans hoped.. But Misryoum sees a clearer fit than the draft slot might suggest: Benson’s biggest calling card is his speed and big-play potential. a skill set that can immediately influence how defenses react.. Even if he isn’t the instant answer at WR1. there’s a realistic path for him to become a frequent option as the offense learns to exploit matchups in Kubiak’s scheme.. A mid-season role as a constant threat—potentially even a WR3 type who’s on the field in meaningful situations—feels like a reasonable outcome for his rookie season.
Still. the most intriguing value in the Raiders’ class could be Jermod McCoy. Tennessee’s cornerback who slid far enough to still be available when Las Vegas picked in the fourth round.. Misryoum reads the selection as a classic “high-upside fall” scenario. where the talent is there. but the question marks create risk.. In McCoy’s case. the concern centers on his knee. including reports of a degenerative issue and the possibility of additional surgery.. For teams. that kind of uncertainty can sink a player’s draft stock—yet it also explains why a team can sometimes gain a starter-level player at a price that feels like a steal.
If McCoy’s recovery timeline is on track. the Raiders could benefit immediately because the corner position is a weekly determinant of how the defense functions.. A healthy. athletic corner allows the secondary to press more often. match routes more aggressively. and force offenses into smaller windows.. Misryoum believes the Raiders are betting on the idea that the knee concerns can be managed before the season begins. turning this pick into one of the quiet best decisions of the draft.
What’s most telling is how all of these moves connect.. The Cousins signing suggests Mendoza’s rookie season is designed for development rather than immediate heroics.. Jeanty and Bowers offer Misryoum-worthy structure for the offense’s identity, giving the quarterback playmakers to build rhythm with.. Benson adds the vertical element that can turn long-range throws into touchdown opportunities.. And McCoy gives the defense a potential long-term boost at a premium position.
The biggest question for Las Vegas now isn’t whether the talent is there—it’s whether the sequencing is right.. If the Raiders can keep Mendoza protected. use Cousins to stabilize production while the young pieces learn the system. and get a clean start to the season on both sides of the ball. Misryoum expects the 2026 class to look less like a draft recap and more like the beginning of a coherent. multi-year plan.