The Raiders sent star pass rusher Maxx Crosby to the Ravens in exchange for two first-round picks, including the No. 14 overall pick 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, the third-fewest in the NFL, while their 28.4% pressure rate ranked fourth-worst in the league, according to NFL Next Generation Stats.
Meanwhile, the Raiders will acquire important assets with which to continue their organizational reconstruction. They will now be positioned to land two top-15 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft and could use them to improve an offense that struggled mightily in 2025.
Las Vegas has a lot of buying power in the draft. They are tied for the second-most picks in the draft as a whole and are one of five teams to have multiple first-round picks.
Here’s what you need to know about the Raiders’ draft capital and how they could use it on draft day.
Las Vegas Raiders 2026 draft picks
The Raiders now own 11 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft after the Maxx Crosby trade, including two first-round picks. Below is a complete look at Las Vegas’ abundance 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 picks they currently own in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Round 1, pick 1: QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
There is little mystery surrounding the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Raiders are expected to select Mendoza, who won the Heisman Trophy and led Indiana to a national title in his only season with the school. The 22-year-old has elite skills in accuracy, anticipation and ball placement 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 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’ highest-rated cornerback last season, according to Pro Football Focus, will be a free agent. They will need to replace the five-year veteran if they don’t retain him, and Johnson is a versatile, ready-to-play prospect. The 6-0, 193-pound cornerback generated four interceptions and allowed a minuscule 16.1 passer rating and 18 interceptions in his final season with the Aztecs.
Round 3, pick 67: G Keyland Rutledge, Georgia Tech
The Raiders sported one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL last season. They’ll need to improve against Mendoza by 2026, and Rutledge’s (6-4, 316 pounds) pro-grade body should make him a plug-and-play option with great run-blocking skills. He could fill in at right guard, where he primarily played in college, while Jackson Powers-Johnson could move 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 running back who thrived for the Red Raiders last season. Height also performed well, racking up a career-high 10 sacks during his sixth collegiate campaign. Height is a good athlete who is explosive off the edge, but he will need to add some strength to his 6-3, 239-pound frame to avoid being constantly bullied at the point of attack.
Round 4, pick 124: C Jake Slaughter, Florida
Jordan Meredith, the Raiders’ top starting center in 2025, was ranked 31st among 37 qualified players at the position, according to Pro Football Focus. Slaughter (6-5, 305 pounds) is a good athlete who would ideally fit into 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 make a positive turn with one of them. Bell has unteachable size at 6-9, 346 pounds and filled in at left tackle in the middle of 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 bigger receiver to pair with the under-6-foot duo of Lemon and Tre Tucker would be a wise move for the Raiders. Stribling turned in a 4.36-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine after measuring 6-2, 207 pounds and recording 55 receptions for 811 yards and six touchdowns in his lone season with the Rebels.
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Round 6, pick 182: Edge Caden Curry, Ohio State
Las Vegas will almost certainly double its lead after trading Crosby. Curry was super productive during his final season at Ohio State, racking up 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 rotation 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 his senior season while breaking up five passes. He’s not the biggest player at 6-0 and 223 pounds, but his athleticism and instincts should make him a quality role player in the NFL. He could help replace Elandon Roberts and Devin White, 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 looks like a great option as the No. 3 tight end behind Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How the Maxx Crosby trade affects the Raiders’ draft picks and the mock draft