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Raiders draft countdown: Mervyn Fernandez is best No. 86

Originally posted on Dice City Sports | By Mark Hebert | Last updated Jan 27, 2026 10:04 AM ET

Eighty-six days remain until the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, Pa., April 23-25, 2026. After a 3-14 season in 2025, the Las Vegas Raiders hold the No. 1 overall pick.

Dice City Sports is counting down by highlighting the franchise’s best players by jersey number. Today, January 27, the number is 86.

Mervyn Fernandez, No. 86

Mervyn Fernandez is the pick for No. 86 because he gave the Raiders rare big-play production for the era. Over six seasons, he played 86 games, the same as his jersey number.

Fernandez finished with 209 catches for 3,764 yards and 19 touchdowns with the Raiders. He averaged 18.0 yards per catch, which shows how often he flipped the field.

Mervyn Fernandez making moves

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Why Fernandez gets No. 86

The yardage and efficiency separate him from the rest of the No. 86 group. Meanwhile, the touchdown total holds up when you stack it against other Raiders receivers from that span.

He was not a volume target by modern standards. Still, his 3,764 yards in 86 games made him a weekly chunk-play threat.

Draft and background

Fernandez was born Dec. 29, 1959, in Merced, Calif. He played at San Jose State before reaching the NFL.

The Los Angeles Raiders drafted him in the 10th round, 277th overall, in 1983. Then he turned that long-shot entry into a six-year run in Silver and Black.

Other notable No. 86s

Gerald Irons, 1970-1975
Rocket Ismail, 1993-1995
Ken Herock, 1963-1965
Roland Williams, 2001-2004

Career check

Fernandez’s Raiders line is simple and strong: 209 catches, 3,764 yards and 19 touchdowns. Because he produced explosive plays for years, No. 86 belongs to him.

Next up tomorrow: No. 85.

Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Raiders, Athletics, and UNLV baseball and softball. He has 24 years of journalism experience, is also a senior reporter at Exhibit City News, and previously covered the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers. Follow him on X or connect on LinkedIn.

This article first appeared on Dice City Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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