No matter where the Raiders end up picking in the 2027 NFL Draft, wide receiver will be a position of need. Las Vegas could fill that hole with Indiana’s Charlie Becker.
Luke Easterling of Athlon Sports has the Raiders selecting Becker with the 12th pick in his latest mock draft.
“This would be a fantastic reunion for all parties involved, giving Fernando Mendoza one of his favorite targets from last year’s national title team at Indiana. Becker was not only a clutch performer for Mendoza and the Hoosiers, but he brings an elite combination of size (6-4, 208), speed, athleticism, and contested-catch ability that could easily make him the new No. 1 receiver (Brock Bowers notwithstanding) in Vegas,” Easterling wrote.
Mendoza and Becker played together for one season at Indiana. It went pretty well, as the Hoosiers claimed the national title while going 16-0. Las Vegas might try to recapture some of the magic they helped create last season.
Becker’s Collegiate Career
Becker hasn’t torn up college football. He is off to a good start in 2026, leading Indiana with 272 receiving yards through three games. But he has not produced gaudy numbers in his first two seasons of college football.
As a freshman, Becker appeared in all 12 games, but he didn’t record a single reception. He did carry the ball once for three yards. As a sophomore, Becker was the third-leading receiver for the Hoosiers, as he caught 34 passes for 679 yards.
The Raiders would be betting on Becker’s size and speed, plus a reconnection with Mendoza, to make the pick pay off.
The 12th Overall Pick
One downside to the Raiders’ two early wins is the loss of draft capital. If the Raiders are able to make the playoffs, no one will care where their 2027 pick sits. But if Las Vegas still misses the postseason, winning a couple of games could create a big difference in the talent general manager John Spytek can add to the roster.
For example, Becker has yet to surpass 1,000 receiving yards in his collegiate career. The draft’s projected top wide receiver, Jeremiah Smith, has 2,958 yards in his career. Smith has played just one more game than Becker.
It is an interesting plot for plenty of NFL teams. Losing is incentivized via the draft, but winning can help set up a team to progress, rather than constantly end up near the bottom of the standings.
The worst place for an NFL team to finish is just outside the playoffs. An 8-9 season with no playoffs and a pick outside the top 15 is brutal.
But the Raiders might sign up for that right now. After winning seven total games over the last two seasons, any level of success is welcome.
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