How AI mocked the Raiders’ 10 NFL draft selections

The prompt was simple enough.

The results, however, produced a long, winding road that bridged practicality with the absurd.

Mostly the latter.

We may have just been asking too much.

It started with a simple premise: How would a standard AI program fare trying to complete a seven-round mock draft?

So the prompt was entered into ChatGPT: “Can you perform a full seven-round mock draft for the Raiders in the upcoming 2026 NFL draft, keeping in mind both team needs and best available players for each selection? Please include a description of why each pick was made.

Seems simple enough. Spoiler alert: It wasn’t.

Here is a look at who the program selected with each pick, including its analysis for why and our take on the choice:

Round 1, Pick 1

Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

AI Analysis: This is the easiest decision in the draft. Mendoza is widely viewed as the clear QB1 and likely No. 1 overall pick after a Heisman + national title run. He has elite leadership and poise, is an accurate pro-ready passer and instantly becomes the face of the franchise. You don’t pass on a potential franchise QB when you need one this badly.

Our take: Good start, AI.

Round 2, Pick 36

Blake Miller, OT, Clemson

AI Analysis: The Raiders’ offensive line was one of the worst units in football and is a top-tier need alongside QB. Miller is an experienced multi-year starter who has a high floor at right tackles and provides immediate protection help for Mendoza. You can’t develop Mendoza without fixing the protection first.

Our take: It’s a position of need and not really a stretch as Miller is widely considered a top-10 prospect at tackle. He’s also very experienced as a four-year starter who broke the school record for offensive snaps. The biggest issue, however, is that Miller is an elite pass protector who is fairly average in the run game. That doesn’t really work for a Klint Kubiak system.

Round 3, Pick 67

Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

AI Analysis: The secondary lacks depth and long-term answers in the starting lineup. Terrell is a first-round talent who could fall due to injury concerns. This is a classic value pick–Buy low on talent at a premium position.

Our take: This would be a fantastic pick if somehow he is still on the board at this point. Even though some yellow flags have been raised over a disappointing 40 time, Terrell could sneak into the back of the first round and is very likely to be gone by the middle of the second. This seems to be some wishful thinking on AI’s part.

Round 4, Pick 102

Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

AI Analysis: The Raiders need a true WR1 or high-end complement. Tate is considered one of the most complete WRs in the class analytically. Give your rookie QB a reliable weapon early.

Our take: Come on, ChatGPT. What are you trying to get away with here? There is literally no chance Tate is available here and if he was, you should have taken him in either the second or third round. This is just silly season. But yes, if Carnell Tate is available here, then by all means select him.

Round 4, Pick 117

Nazir Stackhouse, DT, Georgia

AI Analysis: The Raiders interior defensive line lacks consistency and Stackhouse would be a run-stopping anchor. He helps fix a defense that struggled against the run.

Our take: Here is where we go from comical to absurd. Stackhouse would be a nice piece in the center of the defensive line and could serve as a nose tackle when the Raiders want to get in their new base 3-4 look. But Stackhouse plays for the Green Bay Packers. He signed last year as an undrafted free agent and appeared in 13 games, including one start.

Round 4, Pick 134

Donovan Jackson, OG, Ohio State

AI Analysis: The Raiders lost multiple offensive line pieces and need interior protection just as badly as tackle. Double-dipping on the offensive line is intentional. This unit must be rebuilt.

Our take: Here we go again. It’s an absolute certainty that Jackson will be a first-round pick. Because he already was, last year for the Minnesota Vikings. At some point in this AI draft, the program just started randomly deciding to take players who are already in the league. To be fair, the Raiders would gladly take him. Jackson started all 14 games in which he played and had a solid rookie campaign in Minnesota.

Round 5, Pick 175

Quinshon Judkins, RB, Mississippi

AI Analysis: Running back is a secondary need, but a very important piece for a young quarterback. He is a physical runner who fits a Kubiak-style offense. Establishing the run game takes pressure off Mendoza.

Our take: Maybe we need to refresh the servers. Kubiak has been vocal about wanting a complementary running back to Ashton Jeanty and it would not be at all surprising to see the Raiders select one at this point in the draft. But obviously Judkins is already on the Browns. The program also listed him as being out of Mississippi, where he started his career but left for Ohio State after the 2023 season.

Round 6, Pick 185

A.J. Haulcy, S, LSU

AI Analysis: A rangy safety with ball-hawk instincts. Haulcy provides insurance for Isaiah Pola-Mao and Jeremy Chinn, especially in sub-packages where the Raiders need more speed over the top.

Our take: OK, now we’re at least back on track. Haulcy is likely to be off the board at this time, but at least he’s in the right draft class. He would also be an immediate fan favorite. He doesn’t have elite athleticism or speed, but he is always around the ball and strikes fear in receivers who dare come across the middle of the field.

Round 6, Pick 208

Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama

AI Analysis: A late-round flyer on a physical receiver. Bernard, a Las Vegas native, has the frame to be a contested-catch specialist, giving Mendoza a big target in the red zone alongside Brock Bowers.

Our take: The program must think it is drafting against a bunch of clueless organizations that place no value on wide receivers. Like Tate, this would be a great pick if there was any chance it was realistic. In fact, if John Spytek gets Tate in the fourth round and Bernard in the sixth, construction will begin on his statue the next morning.

Round 7, Pick 219

Trey Smack, K, Florida

AI Analysis: The Raiders have recent struggles at kicker and are actively scouting replacements. He has a strong leg and long-range consistency. Late-round special teams investment fills a real weakness.

Our take: The Raiders allowed the contract of Daniel Carlson to expire after a down season and chose to sign Matt Gay, who was even less consistent last year. The move didn’t make much sense on the surface, so a rookie kicker should probably be on their radar. And hey, at least Smack is draft-eligible and not yet already on another NFL roster. Strong finish, AI.