Grumzy'S MOCK DRAFT
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Grumzy'S MOCK DRAFT
RUN ON APR 17, 2026

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Mock drafts from Grumzy

TakingShape17426

  • Grumzy DRAFTING FOR THE
    Raiders
Draft Selections
Fernando Mendoza Head Shot
PICK: 1 RND: 1 (LV)
Fernando Mendoza
QB Indiana
Chris Johnson Head Shot
PICK: 36 RND: 2 (LV)
Chris Johnson
CB San Diego State
Lee Hunter Head Shot
PICK: 67 RND: 3 (LV)
Lee Hunter
DT Texas Tech
Ted Hurst Head Shot
PICK: 102 RND: 4 (LV)
Ted Hurst
WR Georgia State
Zakee Wheatley Head Shot
PICK: 117 RND: 4 (LV)
Zakee Wheatley
S Penn State
Jakobe Thomas Head Shot
PICK: 134 RND: 4 (LV)
Jakobe Thomas
S Miami
Kaelon Black Head Shot
PICK: 175 RND: 5 (LV)
Kaelon Black
RB Indiana
Riley Nowakowski Head Shot
PICK: 185 RND: 6 (LV)
Riley Nowakowski
TE Indiana
Eli Heidenreich Head Shot
PICK: 208 RND: 6 (LV)
Eli Heidenreich
WR Navy
VJ Payne Head Shot
PICK: 219 RND: 7 (LV)
VJ Payne
S Kansas State
Draft Grade — Raiders
Overall B-
ValueB- NeedB TradesB- FutureB-
The Raiders drew a line under the quarterback search with Mendoza: B-.

They finally answered the question that shadows every other one. Fernando Mendoza is the Raiders' quarterback, full stop. Nothing here to lose sleep over; call it a B-.

The cost of the Black reach is exactly the players who went right after him. They banked enough surplus on Wheatley to cover a lot of smaller sins. That edge rusher hole did not close this weekend, and it was the biggest one on the wall.

Spending an early pick on safety with edge rusher and offensive lineman open is the decision the grade keeps circling back to.

In sum, a sturdy weekend with one asterisk, the edge rusher spot they never got to.

Pick Analysis
Pick1 Rnd1 Fernando Mendoza
In pick 1 they get their guy under center for the next decade. A clean fit for the roster.
Pick36 Rnd2 Chris Johnson
Good price on Chris Johnson in No. 36, a hair ahead of his grade with no real quibbles. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Pick67 Rnd3 Lee Hunter
A top-tier interior defensive lineman at a bargain, Lee Hunter in the 67th pick, plain and simple. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
Pick102 Rnd4 Ted Hurst
Ted Hurst at the 102nd overall pick is money in the bank, a wide receiver taken below his worth. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Pick117 Rnd4 Zakee Wheatley
You do not let a safety like Zakee Wheatley reach Round 4, Pick 17 and blink. They did not. It thickens a room that could stand to be thicker.
Pick134 Rnd4 Jakobe Thomas
Of all the spots to shop, they chose safety. Jakobe Thomas in pick No. 134 leaves edge rusher and offensive lineman for later.
Pick175 Rnd5 Kaelon Black
The board screamed and they did not listen, reaching into the next round for Kaelon Black. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
Pick185 Rnd6 Riley Nowakowski
Riley Nowakowski at the Round 6 slot is the pick scouts circle, and not in a good way. The roster fit checks out.
Pick208 Rnd6 Eli Heidenreich
They left a pile of value on the table to take Eli Heidenreich this early at the Round 6 slot. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Pick219 Rnd7 VJ Payne
They robbed the room for VJ Payne here, a fall nobody at the table saw coming. A want more than a need, though you can never have too many.