Raiders Grab Promising Qb Generational Defensive Prospect In 3 Round

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Nov 16, 2025, 6:53 PM

raiders grab promising qb generational defensive prospect in 3 round

After another divisional loss and some favorable results around the NFL, the Las Vegas Raiders moved up a slot in the 2026 NFL Draft to the No. 6 overall pick. They could move even closer this week with a tough Monday Night Football matchup against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 11. The Raiders may still be on the outside looking in when it comes to the top quarterback prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft. With teams like the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, and the New Orleans Saints all currently ahead of them, they may have to be patient to find their signal-caller of the future. In the case of this mock draft, that is exactly what happened.

Alabama's Ty Simpson, Indiana's Fernando Mendoza, and Oregon's Dante Moore were all picked before the Raiders got their chance. But Las Vegas still landed a potential franchise quarterback and an elite defensive prospect. According to many draft experts, Ohio State safety Caleb Downs is one of the top prospects in the entire 2026 class. NFL Draft Buzz has him ranked second overall behind Miami EDGE Ruben Bain Jr., and they compare him favorably to Pro Football Hall of Famer Troy Polamalu. Downs has a prototypical build for a safety at 6-feet and 205 pounds, and his last recorded 40-yard dash time of 4.45 seconds is in the 86th percentile for his position. What makes Downs special is not necessarily his measurables, but rather his tremendous football IQ and elite processing abilities.

With the Raiders continuing their free fall this season, they appear like a sure bet for one of the top picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. With still six games left in the 2024 NFL season, PFF has already put out a three-round NFL mock draft with the Raiders (finally) addressing their need at QB as well as adding talent... 2. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS: QB SHEDEUR SANDERS, COLORADO Though quarterback Aidan O’Connell managed to get the Raiders in range for an upset in Kansas City this week, all indications point toward the team selecting a quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft. Sanders stands out as the most pro-ready quarterback in this class, earning high passing grades in each of the last two seasons and excelling under pressure with one of the highest passing grades in...

While his arm strength might not be elite, Sanders is a polished passer the Raiders can put their faith in. 34. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS: RB OMARION HAMPTON, NORTH CAROLINA Hampton is the second running back off the board in this mock draft behind only Boise State's Ashton Jeanty selected at 13 overall by the Cowboys. The Las Vegas Raiders have their starting quarterback for the next two seasons, Geno Smith. They made that apparent after extending his contract.

He'll be reunited with a head coach who's always believed in him, with Pete Carroll, and hopefully, their bond will lead to success while he's in the Silver and Black. While he was with the Seattle Seahawks, he was one of the best storylines when he took over the starting position in 2022, after being considered a draft bust for most of his career,... His underdog mentality will bode well with Raider Nation as a player who's been counted out multiple times, just like this franchise has been for the past couple of years. As good as it will be for Raiders fans to see sustained success at the quarterback position, it isn't reasonable to expect Smith's stellar play to continue for very long. I believe two years was the perfect amount of time for his contract extension, as next year he'll probably still play good, and the last year of his deal he'll most likely regress a... This sets up the Raiders perfectly to draft an unpolished quarterback in this year's draft and have him wait for a year and be mentored by Smith before taking over the franchise's reins.

Josh Edwards is a sports writer for CBS Sports, and he published a seven-round mock draft. For the Raiders, he predicts they'll take a shot on Tyler Shough in the third round to be their quarterback of the future. The Las Vegas Raiders have gone through a metamorphosis throughout one big offseason. After Tom Brady took over a minority ownership stake in the team, the Raiders have been hard at work to improve the roster, starting with the quarterback position. A blockbuster trade to acquire Geno Smith has given them a very reliable name behind center. And the appointment of Pete Carroll as the new head coach should bring the franchise some stability.

However, one analyst wants them to also consider their long-term future. The trade for Smith was a complete success for Las Vegas, giving them the 15th-ranked quarterback last season, according to PFSN’s QB+ metric, after their starters last season ranked 20th (Aidan O’Connell) and 35th... However, at 35, it might not be long before the Raiders have to go hunting for a quarterback. As a result, the latest mock draft from PFSN for the 2026 NFL Draft has them adding Arch Manning out of Texas. The latest incarnation of the Manning family dynasty, he is set to take over as the starting quarterback for the Texas Longhorns this season with a chance to make it to the NFL next... He is, without a doubt, one of the most hyped athletes in the entire collegiate circuit.

The Las Vegas Raiders are a team in flux. Coming off a disappointing 4-13 season, both head coach Antonio Pierce and general manager Tom Telesco were recently fired. With replacements yet to be selected, it’s hard to know what mindset the team will have when the 2025 NFL Draft comes around. What is undeniable, however, is that this roster is filled with holes. For starters, the Raiders desperately need a franchise quarterback. However, this draft class is not considered strong at the quarterback position.

It will be interesting to see how the team will handle free agency, as the Raiders are currently projected to have around $92.5 million to spend, according to Over the Cap. With the offseason officially underway in Las Vegas, let’s do a three-round mock draft. Pro Football Network’s mock draft simulator will be used for this exercise, and no trades will be included. Round 1, Pick 6: CB Will Johnson, Michigan Fernando Mendoza threw for 87 yards and the game-winning TD on Indiana's final drive Saturday. Isaiah Vazquez / Getty Images

As always, the NFL has QB-needy teams and QB-desperate teams. And, yes, there is a difference. We’ll start with those franchises that figure to be desperate heading into the offseason, as they’re more likely to use an early draft pick on a quarterback. Teams we’d consider on that list: New York Jets, Cleveland Browns and, possibly, the New Orleans Saints (depending on how the rest of this season goes for Tyler Shough and Spencer Rattler) or Miami... On the “needy” list: Las Vegas Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers, Los Angeles Rams and, maybe, Arizona Cardinals. All four of those teams currently have No.

1 quarterbacks, but their long-term outlooks are cloudy. Thanks in part to their trade-deadline work, the Jets have more flexibility than any other team in the league. With five first-round picks over the next two years, New York could wait to address its QB problem until 2027. Or, the franchise could pursue an established veteran via trade. The Browns, Rams and Cowboys (who shouldn’t need a new quarterback anytime soon) also have multiple first-round picks in ’26. The Las Vegas Raiders' front office pulled a rabbit out of their hat by swinging a trade with the Seahawks to make Geno Smith their starting quarterback.

The veteran signal-caller isn't a long-term answer at the game's most important position, but he will help head coach Pete Carroll win more games over the next handful of seasons. It's imperative that the Raiders give Smith a No. 1 wide receiver to work with in 2025. There is not a wideout on the current roster that has the talent required to strike fear in the hearts of opposing defensive backs. The lack of star wide receivers still available in free agency means the front office must find a top pass-catcher in the draft. The defense also needs reinforcements in the early rounds.

Finding a disruptive defensive tackle would take some pressure off the team's edge rushers to do all the heavy lifting up front. Adding another cornerback capable of manning a starting position on the outside would also be a wise move. Raiders fans should read on to see how their favorite team might execute the first three rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft. Some scouts believe Matthew Golden is making a case to be the first receiver off the board in this year's class but Tetairoa McMillan is the better prospect. He's just the sort of big-bodied wide receiver who can make explosive plays down the field for Smith and the Raiders' offense. He doesn't quite have the physical gifts that D.K.

Metcalf aided Smith with in Seattle but he is a much more consistent route-runner. McMillan will still make his money on winning balls down the field but he's got more to his game than just being a jumpball artist.

Raiders Grab Promising Qb Generational Defensive Prospect In 3 Round

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