The Las Vegas Raiders moved up to No. 2 overall in the real-time 2026 NFL draft order. Their Week 14 loss to the Denver Broncos, coupled with upset wins for the New Orleans Saints and Tennessee Titans, saw the Raiders move up two spots. It’s a game-changer for GM John Spytek, who is trying to rebuild the roster.
Following this development, we’ve conducted a new Raiders three-round mock draft using Pro Football Focus’ Mock Draft Simulator.
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Round 1 (No. 2 overall): Dante Moore, QB, Oregon
Geno Smith hasn’t met expectations and the Raiders could move on from the veteran quarterback this offseason. Can Spytek pass up the opportunity to draft a potential franchise QB at No. 2 overall? Probably not. Assuming the New York Giants trade the No. 1 pick to a QB-needy team that’ll take Indiana signal-caller Fernando Mendoza, Oregon QB Dante Moore would be the Raiders’ consolation prize. Moore is an accurate and athletic quarterback with terrific poise and confidence.
Round 2 (No. 33 overall): Joshua Josephs, EDGE, Tennessee
If the Raiders hypothetically took a QB at No. 2 overall, the rest of Spytek’s draft has to be defense-heavy. Finding Maxx Crosby some support along the defensive line is crucial this offseason. Tennessee’s Joshua Josephs is an athletic, speedy pass rusher with 4.0 sacks this season.
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Round 3 (No. 67 overall): Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati
Do the Raiders have any long-term solutions at linebacker? The likes of Jamal Adams, Devin White, and Elandon Roberts are all bandaids that Pete Carroll approved this past offseason. Cincinnati Bearcats linebacker Jake Golday is a true three-down workhorse who has totaled 104 tackles this season.
This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: 3-round Raiders 2026 NFL mock draft: Picking a QB at No. 2 overall