Opinions can vary on how significant the need for a wide receiver on the Las Vegas Raiders’ roster is heading into the 2026 NFL draft. But the Raiders’ coaching staff and front office are certainly doing their due diligence at the position, meeting with a bunch of wideouts throughout the pre-draft process. That’s either a game of 4-D chess to throw the rest of the league off the scent of who they’re targeting on Day 2, or a sign that new head coach Klint Kubiak isn’t thrilled with his current crop
of pass-catchers.
Assuming it’s the latter, what should Las Vegas’ strategy be to land a quality receiver? Let’s dive into what Plans A, B and C should be during the last weekend in April. For added context, each plan will include a versatile slot option and an X-receiver since those are the two prototypes the Raiders have been looking into.
Plan A: KC Concepcion or Denzel Boston at 36
Omar Cooper Jr. can be thrown into this plan too, but it seems like he’s been cemented as at least WR4 in this year’s draft class and a first-round pick, while Concepcion and Boston are closer to the fringe. If any of those three fall, either would be a great option at 36, with Cooper and Concepcion fitting into the versatile category and Boston being an option as an ‘X’.
The Texas A&M product feels like the more natural fit in Kubiak’s offense, due to his ability to line up at pretty much any wide receiver spot and be a dynamic weapon with the ball in his hands. Meanwhile, the 6-foot-4, 212-pound former Husky has the size to win on the outside and be a contested-catch threat.
If these two (or three) aren’t available in the second round, Las Vegas would be better off targeting a different position and pivoting to ‘Plan B’.
Plan B: Germie Bernard or Ted Hurst at 67
Bernard doesn’t have Concepcion’s explosiveness, hence why he has a lower draft projection, but there are a lot of similarities between the two players’ games. Bernard can line up in the slot or out wide and is good after the catch, making him a good fit with Kubiak, too. As of April 9, the Alabama product ranks 56th on NFL Mock Draft Database’s consensus big board, though, so he might get snatched up on the backend of the second round.
Meanwhile, Hurst didn’t have much draft buzz during the season, but that had more to do with Georgia State being 1-11 than it did with his skillset. The former Panther reminds me of a young Nico Collins, a third-round pick in 2021, with his combination of size (6-foot-4, 206 pounds) and speed (4.42-second 40-yard dash) to win downfield. Hurst seems like a more realistic option at pick 67, ranking 76th on NMDD’s board.
Plan C: Skyler Bell or Bryce Lance at 102
Another non-Power 4 prospect who is flying under the radar, Bell was one of the most efficient wide receivers in College Football last season. He ranked tied for eighth among FBS wideouts with 3.13 yards per route run, according to Pro Football Focus, sharing the spot with likely first-round pick Makai Lemon. The UConn product is another versatile receiver who fits what Kubiak likes at the position, finishing in the top 20 of FBS wide receivers with 8.2 YAC per reception in 2025.
Then there’s Lance, who is the younger brother of 2021 No. 3 overall pick and current Los Angeles Chargers backup quarterback Trey Lance. Speed is clearly a family trait, as the wide receiver clocked a 4.34-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. He also measured in at 6-foot-3 and 204 pounds to fit the X-receiver prototype. Lance will have to expand his route tree if he heads to Las Vegas, but any fourth-rounder is going to have a trait or two to work on.
For the record, this is likely a situation where the Raiders have to hope that at least one of these receivers slips through the cracks on Day 2 of the draft. Per NMDD, Bell ranks 82nd overall and Lance is 87th.
