NEW YORK — The Las Vegas Raiders aren’t overthinking it. With the top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft secured, the Silver and Black have their sights set on Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Fresh off a Heisman season and a National Championship run, Mendoza has distanced himself from the pack, leaving teams like the Jets and Cardinals to fight for the scraps in a top-heavy class.
Pro Days are humming, but the real movement started with the checkbooks. The Buffalo Bills didn’t wait for April to fix their interior line, snagging Austin Corbett and Lloyd Cushenberry on one-year deals. This move likely shifts their draft strategy away from the trenches, allowing them to hunt for a playmaker at pick 26. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Falcons completely rebuilt their backfield by signing Brian Robinson Jr. and Tyler Goodson. With Robinson’s power and Goodson’s speed, the Falcons can now ignore the running back class and focus on a defensive identity that sputtered late in 2025.
The Washington Commanders also made waves by locking down corner Ahkello Witherspoon. Coupled with a massive extension for Laremy Tunsil, Washington is clearly building a fortress around their franchise assets. This leaves the Ravens at pick 14 with a clear need after signing Danny Pinter to shore up the center spot—they are now primed to snatch a sliding pass rusher or a top-tier safety to reclaim the AFC North.
“Fernando is just different. He sees the field before the play even starts. You could feel the air leave the stadium when he hit that seam against Oregon in the Peach Bowl. He’s a pro-ready winner, period.”
— Anonymous AFC Lead Scout
The draft order is set, but the strategy is fluid. The Raiders at #1 are the lock of the century, but the New York Jets at #2 face a massive dilemma. Do they take Ty Simpson to reset the clock at quarterback, or do they trade back for a king’s ransom? With the draft kicking off in Pittsburgh on April 23, the clock is ticking for GMs who sat out the free agency frenzy. Expect the trade market to explode once the first ten picks are in the books, as the talent gap after the top five prospects is the widest we’ve seen in years.
