The pick is in.

With the 38th pick in the 2026 NFL draft, the Las Vegas Raiders select

Trade and Stukes defensive back.

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raiders and cue after taking fernando mendo mendoza pick number one the raiders go defense

with their next selection was this what you had in mind for las Vegas after taking Mendoza? It was not. It was not what I expected for the Raiders. I thought they were going to stick and pick at 36. They end up trading back with the Texans, just a couple of spot. And as soon as they traded with the Texans, I knew that Caden McDonald was coming off the board to Houston. He just seemed like a guy that would fit with what D'Amico Ryan's wanted to do.

I thought that he was a great fit with what the Raiders were going to try to do, especially since they're going to that three, four defense. I thought he was going to be a perfect defensive tackle, nose tackle for that, you know, that position, uh, tackling machine. So I had him slotted in number 36. So I had the right pick. got the wrong team.

With that being said,

I feel bad because Trayton Stoakes is a heck of a player.

He's really good uh can play that uh you know obviously a safety position but he could also roll up and play the nickel position uh he's got ball skills which is something that the Raiders have lacked for a long time a guy that can make plays on the ball so it's really a good pick and they another pick in the third round. So everyone should be happy about it. I'm just disappointed because I was looking forward to Cade McDonald. I thought he was really going to be that difference maker and really, you know, fortify those trenches or helps solidify those trenches for the Raiders. And it just didn't happen. But they had a chance to get them. And so obviously they didn't make the move for them. So either they didn't want them that bad or the extra third round pick that Houston gave up made more sense for him. Now, where is Stoaks going to fit into Las Vegas as secondary here? He's looking at a really talented player, someone who can do a lot of different things. Where do you think Las Vegas envisions him?

Well, he'll be that free safety, you know, and like I said, I think he'll slide up and play the slot position as well. And look, when you're in a division with the Chiefs and the Broncos and the Chargers and, you know, guys that are teams that have really good quarterbacks that can throw the ball around the yard, you need a guy that can go make plays. and he can do that.

Stoaks can do that.

He's got plenty of speed.

Woody run a 4-3 at the ball around the yard. You need a guy that can go make plays. And he can do that. Stoops can do that. He's got plenty of speed when he run a four-three at the at the combine. So I mean, he's got that as well. And he was a guy that was making a lot of noise and getting a lot of attention toward the end of this draft process. So I'm not surprised that the Raiders went that direction. They've had a history. I was always having really good D.Bs,

and they haven't had them for a while.

And so I think that it makes sense for what they're looking for and how they're trying to build this team.

I just thought that they were going to start in the trenches and work their way out. But they saw this opportunity, got Stoaks, and picked up an extra pick in the third that they feel pretty good about. So I assume with the next pick, you're hoping Las Vegas goes to those trenches and beefs those up? I think that that's the, you know, that would be the idea. And really, they could do the defensive side of the ball or offensive side of the ball. I just think that, you know, for this team, at least in this year, first year with Clint Kubiak, they really need to make sure that those, those trenches are solidified. They went and got Linderbaum, as you know, from Baltimore, you know, the starting center. So that was a start, but, you know, they still need help. They need some more, you know, players. They need some more talent along that offensive line and defensive line. So I think there's going to be an emphasis on the trenches moving forward

throughout the rest of the draft.

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