Keyron Crawford's Auburn Stats Are Wild, But The Raiders' #1 Overall Pick Is Still Without A Deal

Alright, 12s, even on Father's Day, the NFL train keeps rolling, and we just got a big update out of Vegas. The Raiders finally locked down third-round defensive end Keyron Crawford, putting him on a four-year rookie contract. This is a solid move for them, getting a key piece of their draft class under wraps. But listen up, because while Crawford is officially in the fold, there’s still a huge question mark hanging over their entire draft class: their first overall pick, quarterback Fernando Mendoza, is *still* unsigned. Yeah, you read that right. The top pick in the entire 2026 draft is nowhere near a deal, and that's a whole other ball game.

Crawford's Collegiate Dominance: A Look At What The Raiders Are Getting

Let's talk about Keyron Crawford for a second, because the dude's got some serious tape. Coming out of Auburn, where he transferred after starting his college career at Arkansas State, Crawford was the 67th overall selection in this year's draft. And if you look at his 2025 season with Auburn, you can see why the Raiders were so keen to get him. The guy started all 12 games, and his stat line is pretty eye-popping for a defensive end. We're talking 36 tackles, a staggering 9.5 tackles for loss, and 5.0 sacks. He wasn't just getting in the backfield either, he was making plays, snagging one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and even an interception. That's the kind of production you want

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from a third-round pick, a guy who can disrupt offenses and create turnovers. Getting him signed is definitely a win for the Silver and Black.

Eight Down, Two To Go, And The Big One Is Looming

Now, while Crawford’s signing is good news for the Raiders, it also shines an even brighter spotlight on who *isn't* signed yet. With Crawford officially inked, the Raiders now have eight of their ten draft picks under contract. That’s a good pace, most teams want to get these rookie deals done so everyone can focus on football. But the two guys still out there? They’re not just any late-round fliers. We're talking about quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who was the first overall pick in the entire draft, and fourth-round cornerback Jermod McCoy. The #1 overall pick not being signed this far into June is a pretty big deal. You want your franchise quarterback, the guy you hitched your wagon to, in camp and ready to go. The fact that he's still on the outside looking in, while a third-rounder like Crawford is ready to roll, has to be a major headache for the Raiders' front office. What's next for the Raiders? Well, getting Fernando Mendoza's name on a contract is the obvious answer. With eight of their ten picks done, the pressure is squarely on them to finalize deals for their top guy and Jermod McCoy. You can bet every other team in the league, especially those in the AFC West, is watching this situation closely. You don't want your cornerstone sitting out when the season starts gearing up. Come on, Vegas, get it done!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.