The Las Vegas Raiders are in a unique position to pick first in the 2026 NFL Draft, and general manager John Spytek spoke about the team’s strategy. People aren’t really talking about the No. 1 pick, though, as many believe it’s a lock for Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza. However, there’s an entire draft worth of capital left for Vegas, and Spytek aims to make the most of it.
Why Offensive Linemen Are Priority for Raiders in the 2026 NFL Draft
Vegas had several holes to plug after the 2025 season, ranking dead last in offense and 25th in defense. Legendary head coach Pete Carroll’s arrival was supposed to mark a turnaround for a franchise that hasn’t seen the inside of a playoff bracket in a number of years. However, the squad faltered early and often, finishing 3-14.
One of the biggest concerns was the offensive line’s strength (53.4 PFSN OL Impact); quarterback Geno Smith was tied with Tennessee Titans signal-caller Cam Ward for the most sacks (55). As such, Spytek wants to see improvement, and the draft next week should provide plenty of opportunity.
The GM was asked about the team’s O-line concerns and his draft strategy for next week.
“I’m happy that we added the [OL] guys we did,” he said in a press conference. “But I’ve never been anywhere where you feel like you’ve got too many offensive linemen. They’re such a hard position to acquire, whether it’s in the draft, it’s almost impossible in free agency, it feels like, especially at certain positions.”
The franchise already acquired star center Tyler Linderbaum, who played out his rookie contract with the Baltimore Ravens. Adding more strategic pieces in the draft would be another step in the right direction, with veteran Kolton Miller also returning.
“Just because we’ve added certain guys through free agency doesn’t mean that we won’t be looking for offensive linemen too,” Spytek said. “I’m on record of saying they’re sexy as hell, and I stand by that.”
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There’s plenty of reason to bolster the offensive line, given its pivotal role in both the run and pass game. Spytek and company acquired former Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jalen Nailor this offseason, and whoever starts at quarterback will need a solid base to make the most of the receiving talent out wide.
Tight end Brock Bowers proved to be a lethal weapon in the pass game, and Spytek would want to put new head coach Klint Kubiak in the best position possible to extract a playoff push out of this squad.
