Barring any wild unforeseen circumstances, the Las Vegas Raiders will select Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza with the 1st overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. The Raiders are entering a new era with head coach Klint Kubiak at the helm, and after announcing plans to release Geno Smith, Las Vegas has paved the way to take Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick.
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With NFL free agency set to commence on Monday, Las Vegas struck up a blockbuster trade on Friday night. The Raiders sent 5-time Pro Bowl DE Maxx Crosby to the Ravens in exchange for two First Round draft picks. Those picks come in 2026 and 2027, which means Las Vegas now owns the No. 1 overall and No. 14 overall picks in April's upcoming NFL Draft.
ESPN sources: the Raiders agreed to trade five-time Pro-Bowl DE Maxx Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for 2026 and 2027 first-round picks.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 7, 2026
The trade cannot be processed until next week, but it is in place. And Crosby is expected to be a Raven with two 1s back to Vegas. pic.twitter.com/rfExCLpXfF
The move signals a shift in focus for the Raiders, who will likely now start to build a new-look offense around Mendoza. With that in mind, utilizing their newly-acquired 14th overall pick on offensive line help is much needed. Here are three players Las Vegas should target with that pick.
Vega Leone, Guard (Penn State)
Protecting Mendoza's blind side will be essential, and Penn State's Vega Leone is an ideal player to target at the guard position. Leone owns a massive 6'4" 320-pound frame, and possesses great body control and balance in the trenches. He started 32 games in his collegiate career, and allowed just two sacks with zero over the last two seasons. Leone is ranked as the No. 2 guard on Mel Kiper's NFL Draft positional rankings, and if he's available at No. 14, the Raiders shouldn't overthink it.
Monroe Freeling, Tackle (Georgia)
It's possible the Raiders don't opt to take a guard with the 14th overall pick, as they signed LT Kolton Miller to a three-year, $66 million contract extension last July. The interior offensive line still needs plenty of help, and Georgia's Monroe Freeling is a tackle Las Vegas should target. Freeling isn't super experienced as a starter, as he started 18 games in his collegiate career. He is an elite pass-protector, but his run blocking could use some improvement. However, the potential is there for Freeling to be a star at the next level.
Kadyn Proctor, Tackle (Alabama)
Alabama's Kadyn Proctor is ranked as the No. 3 offensive tackle on Kiper's positional rankings. His massive 6'7" 352-pound frame jumps off the page, and he brings 40 starts of experience to the draft. He got better and better as the season went on in 2025, and his 5.21-second run in the 40-yard dash shows his strong athleticism and agility.