Draft analyst projects outside the box option for Raiders in 2026

While it is odd to discuss the 2026 NFL Draft so soon, it is never a bad idea for teams to do their homework on the potential crop of upcoming talent.

For the Las Vegas Raiders, they have already been linked heavily to some of the best quarterbacks in the class. Texas’s Arch Manning, Clemson’s Cade Klubnik and South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers have all been connected to the Raiders in early mock drafts. With Geno Smith’s salary only being guaranteed until the end of the 2026 season, at least one quarterback from what looks like one of the most talented groups in 2026 could wind up in Las Vegas.

However, one of the more prominent draft analysts sees next April ending up a little bit different from the consensus.

The Raiders could focus on another premium position in 2026.

In ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller’s mock draft, he has the Raiders selecting Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. with the seventh overall pick.

“Seven of the Raiders’ 11 picks in 2025 came on offense, including five of the first six,” Miller wrote.

“So it’s time to pick up a defense that has to face Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert and Bo Nix twice per season. Las Vegas needs to find Maxx Crosby help on the edge, and Bain’s speed-to-power ability could give it that Crosby complement. Bain has 11 sacks in his two college seasons, using his length to create space he can crash through with his trademark power. The 6-foot-3, 275-pound Bain has the build and tools to make an immediate impact from the left edge.”

Bain is coming off a down year where he only put up three and a half sacks in his sophomore season, so Miller is banking on a career year this season.

While Bain carries a fair amount of risk, it is true that the Raiders could use a complement on the other side of Maxx Crosby. Malcolm Koonce is on a one-year deal, while defensive tackle Christian Wilkins is still dealing with a Jones fracture than ended his first season in Las Vegas. Former top-ten selection Tyree Wilson has also not performed as advertised so far, meaning the Raiders are somewhat thinner at the position than at first glance.

If health and inconsistency remain a factor for the Raiders’ defensive line in 2025, Bain could look like a much more appealing option by season’s end.