The Klint Kubiak era in Las Vegas is off to an encouraging start through the first six games of the season, but even if the Raiders contend for the playoffs this year, they have some holes in the roster that will need to be addressed before they are going to compete for a Super Bowl.
Arguably, the greatest position of need right now for the Raiders is the position just about everyone thought it would be going into the season.
Raiders GM John Spytek took a gentle swing at addressing the receiver room with the signing of Jalen Nailor, but Nailor has six receptions in six weeks and Spytek is almost certainly going to take a big swing (or two) at the wide receiver position in the offseason.
Assuming there are no blockbuster trade or free agent options, Spytek will look to add a receiver in the draft, and the pipe dream going into the season was that Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith might somehow be an option.
Unfortunately for the Raiders’ hopes of getting Smith, the 2027 quarterback class is looking like a disappointment, and Smith has been even better than advertised. Smith could end up being the first pick in the draft, and it’s not looking like the Raiders will have a top 10 pick in the draft.
Assuming Smith won’t be an option, Sports Illustrated insider Hondo Carpenter said on Wednesday he believes the Raiders will target one of Fernando Mendoza’s former teammates to be the next WR1 in Las Vegas.
“If I had to make a prediction today, I think there’s a good shot Charlie Becker, the Indiana wide receiver, will be your Raiders first round pick if they don’t trade the pick,” Carpenter said on the Las Vegas Raiders Insider podcast.
“He was great friends with Fernando. The chemistry, it’s very similar to a Ja’Marr Chase situation, going in and playing with his college quarterback in Cincinnati. I thought that was really interesting, the Charlie Becker talk. That’s what I’m hearing from people, and we’ll get more into detail that at another time. I think the Raiders understand now Jeremiah Smith is probably out of their reach.”
For those who aren’t familiar with Becker, this was from Todd McShay’s early-September mock draft where he sent the Indiana wide receiver to the New Yorks Jets at pick 11…
“Becker is a big-play perimeter receiver who combines size and vertical speed with surprisingly advanced route-running ability. He attacks the football in the air, consistently wins through contact, and brings a physical edge as both a runner and a blocker. He might not be an elite make-you-miss guy with the ball in his hands, but he has the skill set to become a highly reliable and productive NFL starter. Becker can handle the isolated X-receiver role in Frank Reich’s offense, freeing Garrett Wilson to move around the formation and hunt favorable matchups.”
If Becker is the Raiders’ target at wide receiver in the draft, they could run into a similar problem with Becker as they will with Smith.
In Field Yates’ latest mock draft at ESPN, he has Becker going to the Philadelphia Eagles with at pick no. 6.
If the season ended today, the Raiders would own the 15th pick in the 2026 draft and that draft position might put them out of reach of Becker, too.
x: @raidersbeat
Boy where does Hondo come up with these gems?
Spytek already blew a 2nd round pick on Bech, like his 1st rounder that year. Depends where we are at but i am looking at OL/DL there