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Many expect the Las Vegas Raiders to select former Indiana Hoosiers QB Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick.

However, unless they trade back into the first round, the challenging part of the draft will come on Day 2 as the Silver and Black determine who else to potentially have alongside Mendoza in this draft class.

One of the Raiders’ needs is a No. 1 receiver or player with the potential to be that go-to guy for any QB. As a result, Las Vegas could use the draft to find that player who has the potential to fill that need.

Regarding which player the Raiders could draft to potentially be that guy, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler believes the Silver and Black need to reunite Mendoza with his former college teammate by selecting Elijah Sarratt on Day 2.

“I really like the idea of a young quarterback having familiarity with his favorite receiver at the college level,” Brugler said during an April 15 appearance on Raider Nation Radio. “The chemistry they had, you see those back-shoulder throws, you see all the timing routes, is so impressive.

“The idea of introducing that to an NFL offense, whether he’s a big slot or if he plays on the outside, I think that’s what makes your wide receiver room better, regardless of who’s at quarterback. Especially when Mendoza’s in there.”

Can Elijah Sarratt Be an Impact Wideout in the NFL?

Moreover, Brugler shared that Sarratt could grow into a No. 1 guy in the NFL down the road if the Raiders can grab him and develop him alongside Mendoza, should Las Vegas make that decision too.

“I think most of these guys have room to grow, but for the most part I think what we see is what you’re going to get,” Brugler added. “Good athlete, not a great athlete. Not someone who’s going to separate at will. That’s not his game, but his ability to play through contact and his ability to use that size.

“So whether it’s those back shoulders, whether it’s a comeback route, he matches up well in those man-to-man situations where he can match the physicality of defenders and be a reliable target.

“When you scout receivers, you want quarterback-friendly guys, and I think Elijah Sarratt definitely belongs in that category as being quarterback-friendly, and that’s exactly what you’re looking for with a young quarterback.”

Last season with the Hoosiers, Sarratt posted an 85.0 overall PFF grade and an 85.4 receiving grade. Moreover, he finished with 47 catches on 65 targets for 644 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging 13.7 yards per reception.

Sarratt also added 271 yards after the catch, was credited with three drops, and his average depth of target sat at 9.6 yards.

Two Raiders Wideouts Could Step Up in 2026

Although the Raiders lack a No. 1 guy, they do have interesting young wideouts who could take a major step with Jack Bech and Dont’e Thornton entering Year 2 in the NFL.

Raiders general manager John Spytek spoke about the two young receivers and shared an update on them after a roller coaster rookie season with the Silver and Black.

“Two guys who have spent a lot of time in Las Vegas when they could be elsewhere, and I see growth and maturity, a hunger,” Spytek told reporters on April 14. “Maybe their rookie year did not go the way they wanted, and they are determined to make the most of the opportunity in front of them.”