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The assumption is that the Las Vegas Raiders will take former Indiana Hoosiers QB Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 pick. As for what the Silver and Black should do with the Round 2 pick, one analyst believes going wideout is the right decision.
Although the Raiders added Jalen Nailor in free agency, they are still lacking that No. 1 guy with that No. 1 potential. With free agency now in the rearview mirror, the draft or trade market is where Las Vegas can fill this need.
Unless one of the top wideouts falls into the second round, which is possible, the Raiders will need to do their scouting and determine what Day 2 wideout can become a No. 1 guy for Mendoza.
As for a potential name, CBS Sports’ Charles Davis believes that Notre Dame Fighting Irish’s Malachi Fields is one player who would make sense.
“Malachi Fields is not going to be a burner, but he is a big target who will catch everything thrown his way and be in the right spot at the right time,” Davis said on the March 20 edition of “Unnecessary Roughness.”
“The kid out of Notre Dame feels like a second-round receiver. He looks like the type of player who will be available, someone a team can go get and plug in right away because he comes across as a mature young man.”
Raiders Would Bring High Character Guy in Malachi Fields
Moreover, not only does Davis spotlight why Fields makes sense for the Raiders in the second round, but he also notes that the character would fit with what Las Vegas is trying to build in this new era under Mendoza.
“Remember, he’s a University of Virginia [and] Notre Dame kid,” Davis added. “I know things have changed with the NIL era, but I’m still old school. When I hear University of Virginia and Notre Dame, I really have an idea of what kind of kid I think I’m getting.”
Fields had 36 catches for 630 yards and scored five touchdowns in 12 games in 2025 for Notre Dame, per StatMuse.
Malachi Fields Ranked No. 4 in Wideout Class
Meanwhile, NFL.com analyst Bucky Brooks put Fields in his top five ranking of wide receivers, putting the 23-year-old as the No. 4 wideout in this year’s draft class.
“Malachi Fields ran an underwhelming 4.61 40-yard dash at the combine, but the supersized pass catcher poses problems for undersized defenders on the outside,” Brooks wrote in his article that was published on March 18.
“Standing 6-4 1/2 and 218 pounds with smooth route-running ability and sensational ball skills, the Notre Dame/Virginia product is a natural “X” receiver with the talent and potential to anchor a passing game.”
It will be interesting to see if the size and the potential for Mendoza to be a big target cause the Raiders to draft Fields.
Moreover, when it comes to wideouts, the Silver and Black could choose to draft one of Omar Cooper Jr. or Elijah Sarratt, considering they have a connection already with Mendoza, so Las Vegas’ front office could go in different directions if they want a receiver in the second round.
Eduardo Razo Eduardo Razo is a sports writer for Heavy.com, covering the NFL, MLB, and college football. He has previously covered the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB for NBC Sports Washington and NBC Sports Bay Area & California, and has freelanced for PSG Talk, covering Paris Saint-Germain. He also worked as an editor at Athlon Sports, focusing on MLB and the NFL. More about Eduardo Razo
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