The end of the 2026 NFL draft marks the beginning of a new era for the Las Vegas Raiders, as the organization turns to No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza to get it back to its winning ways. But, as it’s been said plenty of times this offseason, the Raiders are looking at a multi-year rebuild that could require some patience. That means the 2027 NFL draft is almost as important as this year’s.
Las Vegas enters next season with the sixth-worst odds to win the Super Bowl (+12500), according to our friends
at FanDuel Sportsbook, so the expectation is that they’ll likely be picking in the top 10 next spring. While a lot can change in a year, taking a look at a few way-too-early mock drafts can give us a few names to keep tabs on for next year’s cycle.
SB Nation
7. Las Vegas Raiders: Ryan Williams, WR, Alabama
A true “No. 1 wide receiver” is one of the biggest holes left on the Raiders’ roster after this past weekend. While players like Tre Tucker, Jalen Nailor, Jack Bech and Donte Thornton Jr. will have chances to prove themselves in the fall, Mendoza doesn’t have a high-end pass catcher outside of tight end Brock Bowers coming into his first season.
Meanwhile, Williams was a freshman phenom for Alabama in 2024, coming in as a 5-star recruit and recording 48 catches for 865 receiving yards and 10 total touchdowns to become a freshman All-American at just 17 years old. However, he had drop issues and saw a dip in production this past season with 49 grabs, 689 yards and four touchdowns.
For the record, Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith was off the board and went to the Cleveland Browns at No. 4.
CBS Sports
6. Las Vegas Raiders: Cam Coleman, WR, Texas
“Following two seasons of high-level flashes paired with uneven play, the former five-star transferred from Auburn to Texas this offseason, joining forces with [Arch] Manning in Austin. At 6-foot-3, Coleman brings elite field-stretching ability and the capacity to play above the rim, making his appeal easy to understand.” — Cooper Petagna
Another wide receiver, which again, makes sense given how the Raiders’ roster after the 2026 draft. It will be interesting to see how quickly Coleman and Manning can establish chemistry together as that could impact both of their draft stocks as expected top picks. The Auburn transfer managed to log 93 catches for 1,306 yards and 13 touchdowns in two seasons (23 games), while working with Payton Thorne and Jackson Arnold at quarterback.
USA Today
6. Las Vegas Raiders: Jordan Seaton, OT, LSU
“Seems safe to say that all of the Raiders’ plans will be colored by a desire to safeguard and support Fernando Mendoza. Picking up Seaton would certainly serve that end, as the Colorado transfer has carved out a deserved reputation as one of college football’s premier pass protectors. He still has work to do to become a more consistent force in the run game, but he could team with Kolton Miller to prevent edge rushers from throwing Mendoza off his rhythm.” — Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz
This would mean that D.J. Glaze and Charles Grant didn’t get the job done as starters next season since part of the logic is to play Seaton on the other side of Miller. The top-ranked offensive tackle in the 2024 high school recruiting class, Seaton hasn’t quite lived up to expectations yet, but he certainly has the talent to be one of the top edge protectors in next year’s draft class.
He would be switching to right tackle in Las Vegas, in this scenario at least, and could be a long-term replacement for Miller. The latter turns 31 in October, and his contract only carries $5 million of dead cap hit with over $15 million of savings heading into 2027, according to Over The Cap.
