The Las Vegas Raiders and Baltimore Ravens completed a blockbuster trade on March 6, just a handful of days before 2026 NFL free agency begins.
The Raiders sent star pass rusher Maxx Crosby to the Ravens in exchange for two first-round picks, including the 14th overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft.
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Crosby will provide a significant boost to Baltimore’s pass rush ahead of new coach Jesse Minter’s first season with the team. In 2025, the Ravens generated 30 sacks – good for third-fewest in the NFL – while their 28.4% pressure rate ranked fourth-worst in the league, per the NFL’s Next Gen Stats.
Meanwhile, the Raiders will acquire significant assets with which to continue their organizational rebuild. They will now be positioned to land two, top-15 selections in the 2026 NFL Draft and could use them to upgrade an offense that struggled immensely in 2025.
Las Vegas has a lot of buying power in the draft. They are tied with the second-most picks in the draft as a whole and are one of five teams to have multiple first-round selections.
Here’s what to know about the Raiders’ draft capital and how they could use it come draft day.
Las Vegas Raiders draft picks 2026
The Raiders now own 11 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft after the Maxx Crosby trade, including two first-round selections. Below is a full look at Las Vegas’ bounty of draft picks:
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Round 1, Pick 14 (from Ravens)
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Round 4, Pick 124 (from Jaguars via Vikings)
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Round 4, Pick 134 (compensatory)
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Round 5, Pick 175 (compensatory)
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Round 6, Pick 182 (from Jaguars via Jets)
Las Vegas Raiders mock draft after Maxx Crosby trade
Here’s how the Raiders could use the 11 selections they currently own in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Round 1, Pick 1: QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
There’s little mystery surrounding the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Raiders are expected to take Mendoza, who won the Heisman Trophy and led Indiana to a national title in his lone season with the school. The 22-year-old has elite accuracy, anticipation and ball-placement skills and should benefit from working with new Raiders coach Klint Kubiak.
Round 1, Pick 14: WR Makai Lemon, USC
The Raiders will be positioned to build around Mendoza with the pick they acquired from the Ravens in the Crosby trade. Las Vegas is desperate for receiver help, and Lemon (5-11, 192 pounds) has excellent separation skills and strong hands that should make him a reliable slot target at the NFL level.
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Round 2, Pick 36: CB Chris Johnson, San Diego State
Eric Stokes – who was Las Vegas’ top-graded cornerback last season, per Pro Football Focus – is set to be a free agent. They will need to replace the five-year veteran if they don’t retain him, and Johnson is a scheme-versatile, pro-ready prospect. The 6-0, 193-pound cornerback generated four interceptions while allowing a minuscule 16.1 passer rating and 18 interception in his final season with the Aztecs.
Round 3, Pick 67: G Keyland Rutledge, Georgia Tech
The Raiders sported one of the NFL’s worst offensive lines last season. They will need to improve in front of Mendoza for 2026, and Rutledge’s pro-ready frame (6-4, 316 pounds) should make him a plug-and-play option with great run-blocking skills. He could slot in at right guard – where he primarily played in college – while Jackson Powers-Johnson could move over to left guard to replace free agent Dylan Parham.
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Round 4, Pick 102: Edge Romello Height, Texas Tech
David Bailey wasn’t the only edge rusher to thrive for the Red Raiders last season. Height also performed well, racking up a career-best 10 sacks during his sixth college campaign. Height is a good athlete who is explosive off the edge but will need to add some strength to his 6-3, 239-pound frame to avoid being bullied consistently at the point of attack.
Round 4, Pick 124: C Jake Slaughter, Florida
Jordan Meredith, the Raiders’ primary starting center in 2025, graded 31st among 37 qualified players at the position, per Pro Football Focus. Slaughter (6-5, 305 pounds) is a good athlete who would be an ideal fit for Kubiak’s zone-running scheme.
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Round 4, Pick 134: OT Markel Bell, Miami (FL)
The Raiders have three, fourth-round picks and can afford to take an upside swing with one of them. Bell has size you can’t teach at 6-9, 346 pounds and manned the left tackle position amid Miami’s run to the national championship game. He’s an ideal developmental tackle who could benefit from learning behind Kolton Miller.
Round 5, Pick 175: WR De’Zhaun Stribling, Ole Miss
Adding a larger receiver to pair with the sub-6-foot duo of Lemon and Tre Tucker would be a wise move for the Raiders. Stribling blazed a 4.36-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine after measuring in at 6-2, 207 pounds and recorded 55 catches for 811 yards and six touchdowns in his lone season for the Rebels.
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Round 6, Pick 182: Edge Caden Curry, Ohio State
Las Vegas will almost certainly double up on the edge after trading Crosby. Curry was uber-productive during his final season at Ohio State, amassing 11 sacks and 16.5 TFL. He may have benefited from playing alongside first-round talents like Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles and Kayden McDonald, but the 22-year-old should still emerge as a quality rotational edge player at the NFL level.
Round 6, Pick 185: LB Justin Jefferson, Alabama
Not to be confused with the Minnesota Vikings wide receiver, Jefferson enjoyed a productive career for the Crimson Tide. He generated 85 tackles, 6.5 TFL and three sacks in his final season while breaking up five passes. He’s not the biggest player at 6-0, 223 pounds, but his athleticism and instincts should make him a quality NFL role player. He could help replace Elandon Roberts and Devin White, who are both free agents, in Las Vegas.
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Round 7, Pick 218: TE Riley Nowakowski, Indiana
The Raiders don’t necessarily need a tight end, but Nowakowski is a solid value at this juncture. He was a do-it-all blocker for the Hoosiers and could help Las Vegas open up more space for Ashton Jeanty in 2026. Add in his familiarity with Mendoza from their time together with the Hoosiers and Nowakowski seems like an excellent fit as a No. 3 tight end behind Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How Maxx Crosby trade impacts Raiders draft picks, mock draft
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