LAS VEGAS — The AFC North just became a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks. The Las Vegas Raiders shipped superstar edge rusher Maxx Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens late Friday night. In exchange, the Raiders secured a massive haul: two first-round picks, including the 14th overall selection in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. Las Vegas now holds 11 total picks, giving new head coach Klint Kubiak the ammunition he needs to overhaul the roster immediately.
Baltimore Fixes the Edge
The Ravens needed a closer. They got a wrecking ball. Baltimore generated just 30 sacks in 2025, tying for the third-fewest in the NFL. Their pass rush lacked teeth, posting a dismal 28.4% pressure rate. New head coach Jesse Minter steps into the top job inheriting a defense desperate for a spark. Crosby changes the math. He brings relentless energy and durability to a defense that collapsed in critical late-game situations last season.
Las Vegas Raiders 2026 Mock Draft
While the silver and black lose their heart and soul, general manager Tom Telesco now controls the draft board. Here is how the Raiders can leverage their 11 picks to build a new contender.
- Round 1, Pick 1: QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana. The choice at 1.01 is a layup. Mendoza captured the Heisman Trophy, threw 41 total touchdowns, and led the Hoosiers to a national championship. The 22-year-old processes the field instantly and fits Kubiak’s offensive scheme perfectly.
- Round 1, Pick 14 (via BAL): WR Makai Lemon, USC. Las Vegas desperately needs a perimeter weapon. Lemon won the Biletnikoff Award, racking up 1,156 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. He separates effortlessly and gives Mendoza an immediate primary target.
- Round 2, Pick 36: CB Chris Johnson, San Diego State. With Eric Stokes hitting free agency, the Raiders target a pro-ready defender. Johnson locked down the Mountain West, allowing a microscopic 16.1 passer rating when targeted in his final season.
- Round 3, Pick 67: G Keyland Rutledge, Georgia Tech. The offensive line crumpled too often last season. Rutledge offers a massive 6-foot-4, 316-pound frame. He plugs right into the right guard spot, allowing Jackson Powers-Johnson to shift left.
- Round 4, Pick 102: Edge Romello Height, Texas Tech. You cannot replace Crosby with one player, but you must start trying. Height exploded for 10 sacks last year. He brings raw explosion off the line of scrimmage.
- Round 4, Pick 117: C Jake Slaughter, Florida. Upgrading the interior is mandatory. Slaughter is an elite athlete for his size and slides seamlessly into Kubiak’s zone-run concepts.
- Round 4, Pick 134: OT Markel Bell, Miami (FL). A developmental giant. At 6-foot-9, 346 pounds, Bell anchored Miami’s national title run. He will learn the ropes behind Kolton Miller.
- Round 5, Pick 175: WR De’Zhaun Stribling, Ole Miss. Stribling brings size to the receiver room. He torched the combine with a 4.36-second 40-yard dash.
- Round 6, Pick 182: Edge Caden Curry, Ohio State. Doubling down on pass rushers. Curry stuffed the stat sheet with 11 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss for the Buckeyes.
- Round 6, Pick 185: LB Justin Jefferson, Alabama. A high-IQ run stopper. Jefferson racked up 85 tackles and brings immediate special teams value.
- Round 7, Pick 218: TE Riley Nowakowski, Indiana. A familiar face for Mendoza. Nowakowski excels as an in-line blocker and secures the TE3 role behind Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer.
“One thing I can say, above all else, is that I gave ya’ll everything I got and I have no regrets about that. I put everything into trying to win as a Raider.”
— Maxx Crosby, Edge Rusher
Playoff Implications / What’s Next
This trade alters the AFC hierarchy. Baltimore instantly jumps to the top tier of Super Bowl contenders, pairing Crosby’s edge pressure with Kyle Hamilton’s elite secondary play. For Las Vegas, this marks year one of a hard reset. Sitting in a division with Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert, the Raiders recognized they were too far away to compete with a stagnant offense. By securing the draft capital to build around Mendoza, Las Vegas essentially sacrifices 2026 to open a realistic championship window by 2028.
