One Vegas Rookie Is Signed, But Their Number One Pick Is Still Waiting

Alright, 12s, even as we head deeper into the summer, the NFL machine keeps grinding, and guess what? Even our rivals in the AFC West are making moves. The Las Vegas Raiders just inked their third-round defensive end, Keyron Crawford, but trust me, that's not even the real story we need to be talking about. The real head-scratcher for us in the Emerald City? Their *first overall pick* is still out there, unsigned!

Vegas Locks Down a College Star

So, let's talk about the guy who *did* sign. The Raiders officially locked down Keyron Crawford, their third-round defensive end, to a four-year rookie deal. This guy was the 67th overall selection in the 2026 draft, coming out of Auburn after transferring from Arkansas State. That jump in competition says something about his grit, right? And his 2025 season at Auburn? Man, he was disruptive. Crawford started all 12 games for the Tigers, putting up some seriously eye-catching stats. We're talking 36 tackles, a whopping 9.5 tackles for loss, and 5.0 sacks. On top of that, he forced one fumble, recovered another, and even snagged an interception. Those are some impressive numbers for a guy they nabbed in the third round. If he translates even half of that playmaking ability to the pros, the Raiders just got themselves a solid piece for their defensive line. Good for them, I guess, but that's not the part that had me raising an eyebrow.

But Wait, Where's the Top Pick?

Here's where things get r

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eally interesting, 12s. While the Raiders were quick to sign Crawford, there's some major drama brewing in Vegas with their *other* draft picks. According to their own announcement, the Raiders have only eight of their ten draft picks under contract. That means two guys are still waiting, and one of them is kind of a big deal. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who was the *first overall pick* in the entire 2026 draft, is still unsigned. Let that sink in for a second. The guy who's supposed to be the future of your franchise, the top selection in the whole dang draft, isn't locked in yet? That's a massive deal. Every day that passes without Mendoza under contract is a day he's not fully integrated, not learning the playbook, not building chemistry with his new teammates. For a franchise trying to build something, that's a huge question mark hanging over their heads. And it's not just him either. Their fourth-round cornerback, Jermod McCoy, is also among the unsigned. It makes you wonder what's going on behind the scenes, doesn't it? So while the Raiders are celebrating getting one of their guys signed, we're over here watching the bigger picture. Their first overall pick, a quarterback no less, is still waiting. As we count down the days until our own Hawks hit the field, you know we'll be keeping a close eye on these kinds of developments across the league. Every crack in a rival's foundation? Yeah, we'll take it. Keep that Emerald City passion burning, 12s, because every single moment, even the small ones, matters on the road to glory!

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