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Raiders Land Qb Defensive Difference Maker In This 2 Round Mock Msn

Bonisiwe Shabane
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raiders land qb defensive difference maker in this 2 round mock msn

If the 2025 NFL season has taught fans of the Las Vegas Raiders anything, it is that this team is more than just a few pieces away. The roster needs more firepower at every position other than tight end, running back and left tackle, but even then, the latter two could have their depth bolstered. Some positions stick out as bigger needs than others, however, like quarterback, defensive tackle and cornerback. Luckily, the 2026 NFL Draft class is supposed to have difference-makers at each of these spots, and it'll be up to general manager John Spytek to seek them out. While Raider Nation is largely in the camp of drafting a quarterback in the first round, something the franchise has not done since 2007, there is an argument to be made for snagging a... A to Z Sports' Ryan Roberts and Joe DeLeone released their latest 2-round mock draft, and they had Las Vegas follow this exact strategy.

In the first round, they projected the Raiders to draft Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods. "After the Christian Wilkins situation, defensive tackle has become a major need once again for the Raiders," Roberts wrote. "While Clemson has struggled in 2025, Woods has continued to play quality football. He is a ball of chaos at around 6-2 and 315 pounds, possessing rare movement skills for his size." The main objective this offseason for the Las Vegas Raiders is to finally find their long-term answer at the quarterback position. Many possibilities exist for the Raiders in free agency and the trade market for a solution under center.

That said, a rookie starter gives the Raiders serious cap flexibility over the next few years, giving general manager John Spytek a chance to upgrade several other positions. While top prospects such as Miami’s Cam Ward or Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders might be available with the Raiders’ sixth overall pick, it is more likely they will have to trade up to secure one... In a recent mock draft done by The Athletic, the Raiders choose to go bold and move up to ensure they get their guy. Selecting for the Raiders, beat writers Tashan Reed and Vic Tafur trade the sixth and 68th overall picks to the Patriots in exchange for their fourth overall pick, which gets used to select Sanders. “It’s one of the worst-kept secrets in the NFL that the Raiders need a QB, and they were aggressive in their effort to land their signal caller of the future in the draft,” Reed... “They have an extra third-round pick as a result of the Davante Adams trade, so they didn’t hesitate to ship one out to land their guy: Sanders.”

With the NFL season nearing its conclusion and the Las Vegas Raiders having been out of playoff contention for quite some time, we’re already transitioning to draft season. The best part of this time of year is obviously the mock drafts. So, let’s fire up the Pro Football Focus mock draft simulator and weigh some Raiders’ draft possibilities. Before we begin, here are the parameters for this mock draft… This will be a two-round mock with no trades. We’ve decided to make our own selections for non-Raiders picks due to the current issues with PFF.

The simulator frequently produces unexpected results, such as the New England Patriots selecting Tetairoa McMillan first overall or the Indianapolis Colts using their first two picks on running backs. We are using a combination of PFF’s rankings, team needs, and my own in-progress draft notes for those picks, as well as the Raiders selections. Not a ton of surprises here. Hunter is going to be the first pick, without question. The next two picks should be quarterbacks unless a team like Jacksonville or Carolina ends up in the top three after the final week. Some may question Tyler Warren from Penn State coming off the board this early, but it is difficult to watch his tape and not give him a top-10 grade.

Plus, the Jets desperately need a dynamic offensive weapon, and Warren provides exactly that. As far as the rest of the picks go, we have some defensive studs coming off the board in Will Johnson and Abdul Carter and the top offensive lineman in the draft in Will... The Las Vegas Raiders are now on to Day 2 of the NFL draft after taking Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty with the No. 6 overall pick on Thursday night. It's hard to predict where the Raiders will go from here, as the team has so many needs on both sides of the ball. Las Vegas has two picks on Day 2, so they could address both units with one pick each.

The Raiders will first be on the clock at No. 37 overall, where they're in position to grab one of the two best remaining quarterbacks in Alabama's Jalen Milroe or Colorado's Shedeur Sanders. From there, the Raiders will be on the clock again at pick No. 68, which could be yet another sweet spot for a quarterback if Las Vegas wants one. The Raiders also have dire needs at cornerback and wide receiver. MORE: Shedeur Sanders draft slide predicted to end with AFC team

The Las Vegas Raiders will be looking to add a QB this offseason. New head coach Pete Carroll will be looking for the long-term answer for the franchise. Throughout the season, the Raiders looked destined for the No. 1 overall selection, or at least a top-three slot. However, they fell to No. 6 in the final NFL Draft order after winning some games late in the season, complicating their chances to get one of the top QBs.

The Raiders look like they might have to look outside of the first round for their new QB. An underwhelming free agency market may further emphasize their need for a QB in the 2025 NFL Draft, especially one of the top guys. Based on Pro Football Network‘s most recent 2025 NFL mock draft by Chris Dodson, they may be in luck. In this mock, Dodson has the New York Giants trading up to take Cam Ward with the first pick. The Cleveland Browns picked star EDGE Adbul Carter at two, and the Tennessee Titans selected two-way star Travis Hunter with the third pick. The New England Patriots and Jacksonville Jaguars both took defensive players from the University of Michigan, Mason Graham and Will Johnson.

Then, the Raiders are on the clock. Colorado star QB Shedeur Sanders fell to the sixth pick in this outcome, and the Raiders potentially got their quarterback of the future. This would be a dream scenario for Las Vegas. Sanders has been consistently expected to go in the top five and be unavailable for the Raiders. The Titans could use more blocking protection for Cam Ward. The 6-foot-6, 310-pound Fano has a lot of talent and has played well at tackle for the Utes.

He has been a versatile tackle with 11 starts at left tackle and 13 at right tackle heading into the 2025 season. For the most part, Fano played on the left side in 2023 and on the right side in 2024. Fano is fast, athletic, and plays with a mean streak. He is a force as a run blocker and shows a lot of athleticism to take away speed rushers. A lot of teams could fall in love with his tape. Unless Tyler Shough impresses over the final two months of the season, New Orleans will be looking for a true franchise quarterback.

Simpson has been phenomenal in 2025, leading the Crimson Tide to some big wins against tough opponents. In 2025, Simpson has completed 67 percent of his passes for 2,461 yards with 21 touchdowns, an interception, and two rushing touchdowns. Simpson has shown some serious arm talent, making some beautiful throws downfield with superb ball placement to beat tight coverage. In tight games, Simpson made some great passes to lead his team to wins over Georgia and Missouri. Simpson is accurate, smart, has a strong arm, and throws with timing and anticipation. Simpson has shown superb ball security this season as well, with excellent decision-making.

The Giants grab a right tackle to help protect Jaxson Dart. The 6-foot-8, 309-pounder World dominated at Nevada, and if he plays as well at Oregon, he could skyrocket for the 2025 NFL Draft. As a pass blocker, World has a natural build with good size, strength, and length to play on the edge. He does a nice job of sinking his weight to stop bull rushes, and he shows an impressive ability to kill speed to power attempts. World does an excellent job of sustaining his blocks with the upper body strength to tie up defenders. In the ground game, World uses his strong upper body to knock defenders back and push them around.

He has real power at the point of attack and blocks with a mean streak. With overwhelming mass, he can knock defenders flat on their backs and will bury them with a violent pancake block. The Browns take their next hope for a franchise quarterback. Mendoza has completed 71 percent of his passes for 2,342 yards with 26 touchdowns and five interceptions. He has two rushing touchdowns as well. The 6-foot-5, 225-pounder has a quality arm, reads the field well, makes good decisions, and has dangerous pocket passing ability.

Mendoza played well for Cal in 2024. He completed 69 percent of his passes for 3,004 yards with 16 touchdowns and six interceptions. Mendoza has good size, and it will be interesting to see how he develops at Indiana. The Jets grab a franchise quarterback to build around. Moore has been a dynamic point-producer for the Ducks in 2025, making plays with his arm and legs. In 2025, Moore has completed 71 percent of his passes for 1,884 yards with 19 touchdowns and five interceptions.

Moore (6-3, 203) is a dangerous quarterback who is tough to defend. He has shown impressive arm talent and feel as a passer. Moore throws some beautiful deep balls and shows impressive composure and poise for a young player. As the 2025 NFL offseason commences, the Las Vegas Raiders find themselves among the numerous rebuilding teams with a pressing need for a quarterback. While some anticipate the Raiders addressing this need in the first round of the upcoming NFL Draft, others speculate that General Manager John Spytek may instead prioritize acquiring Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty... Following three impactful seasons at Boise State, Jeanty led the Broncos to the College Football Playoffs and subsequently declared for the 2025 NFL Draft.

Widely regarded as the top running back prospect in his class, Jeanty could potentially receive an early selection, with ESPN’s Jordan Reid predicting a move to the running back-needy Raiders in Green Bay. “Expect the Raiders to be heavily involved in the veteran quarterback market; I think Russell Wilson or Justin Fields could fit,” Reid wrote. “If they fill that need in free agency, then Las Vegas can take the best player available, which I think is [Ashton] Jeanty… Drafting a running back this high will prompt debate, but the... Reid doesn’t leave it at that. With the 37th pick, he has Las Vegas going after collegiate All-Star and NFL combine darling Jaxson Dart. “The Raiders are in position to take a chance on a Day 2 quarterback, which would be Dart if the board falls this way.

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