Mailbag: Will Las Vegas Raiders use all 10 picks, trade up or down in 2026 NFL draft?

Las Vegas Raiders general manager John Spytek works from the sideline during the second half of an NFL game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal/Tribune News Service via Getty Images) March Madness is calming down, and we’ll be turning the calendar to April next week.

In other words, the 2026 NFL draft is steadily approaching, as the Las Vegas Raiders are holding and scheduling Top 30 visits to help put the final touches on the roster. So, we have a lot to go over for this week’s mailbag. Let’s get to it!

Q: Do you expect the Raiders to draft ten players or trade for more or fewer picks? A: I’d be surprised if John Spytek didn’t make at least one trade during the draft, especially with three fourth-round picks. I could see Spytek using those picks as ammunition to get back into round one or two if there’s a player still on the board whom the front office likes.

I also wouldn’t put it past him to do the same thing he did in the second round last year and trade back to get more picks, since there are a handful of holes left on the roster. Ultimately, it may not be until day three, but I’d expect the Raiders to make at least one trade during the draft rather than stick and pick all 10 times. Whether that’s moving up or down, I could see an argument in both directions.