Raiders Ready for Pivotal NFL Draft with Top Pick

Las Vegas GM John Spytek confident in team's draft preparation as they look to turn things around with No. 1 overall selection.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 12:07am

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A cubist-style painting featuring sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in the Raiders' team colors of silver, black, and red, conceptually representing the complex challenges the team faces in rebuilding through the upcoming NFL Draft.The Raiders' pivotal 2026 NFL Draft will test the team's ability to rebuild through a fractured, multi-angled lens.Henderson Today

The Las Vegas Raiders are gearing up for the upcoming NFL Draft, holding the coveted No. 1 overall pick. General manager John Spytek expressed excitement about the opportunity to select a franchise-changing player, while also acknowledging the team's past struggles with top draft picks. Spytek noted the Raiders have made improvements to their draft process, including bringing in new faces to the draft room and upgrading their facilities.

Why it matters

The Raiders have endured multiple disappointing seasons in recent years, going a combined 3-14 in 2025. Nailing this year's draft, particularly with the No. 1 overall selection, is crucial for the team to turn things around under head coach Klint Kubiak. The choice of quarterback Fernando Mendoza is widely expected, but the Raiders must ensure he and the rest of the draft class can contribute immediately.

The details

The Raiders are all but certain to select quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick, believing he can be the player to help revive the franchise. Spytek said the team's draft board is largely set, with only minor tweaks remaining as they gather final medical and background information on prospects. The Raiders' 2025 draft class had mixed results, putting pressure on Spytek and the front office to deliver a more productive haul this year.

  • The 2026 NFL Draft is scheduled to take place from April 24-26.
  • The Raiders hold the No. 1 overall pick, their second time in franchise history having the top selection.

The players

John Spytek

The general manager of the Las Vegas Raiders, who is leading the team's preparations for the upcoming NFL Draft.

Klint Kubiak

The head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, who will be looking to turn the team around with the help of this year's draft class.

Fernando Mendoza

The quarterback prospect who is widely expected to be selected by the Raiders with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Mark Davis

The owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, who expressed excitement about the team's top draft pick but cautioned that it does not guarantee success.

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What they’re saying

“Having the first pick in the draft is exciting because we kind of control the draft -- we get to make the decision on who we're gonna pick. But we've had that position before, and it didn't work out. So there's no magic bullet there, but it's a great opportunity to get a great player, whoever they decide to pick.”

— Mark Davis, Raiders Owner

“I wrote a lot of things down that I learned in my first year, things that I screwed up in my first year. And we're not going to change too much, but we've got some new faces in the draft room with us this year, and we've got a fancy new draft room too that I think is state-of-the-art. I think it's the best in the NFL, I don't think that's up for discussion. So, we've got to make sure that all the screens operate the right way.”

— John Spytek, Raiders General Manager

“I would say that the players are in generally the right spot, and we still have conversations to have. We have a medical meeting tonight, we have a security meeting tomorrow night. Like Starkey [Brian Stark] said before, we're going to take all the information we can, and they're small tinkers at this point, but there still are discussions that we're having and information coming in that we have to factor into the total evaluation of the player.”

— John Spytek, Raiders General Manager

What’s next

The Raiders will make their selection with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, which is scheduled to take place from April 24-26.

The takeaway

The Raiders' fortunes hinge on their ability to capitalize on the No. 1 overall pick and build a successful draft class that can help the team rebound from its recent struggles. Spytek's emphasis on learning from past mistakes and making improvements to the team's draft process suggests the Raiders are determined to get this pivotal draft right.