Author: Ryan McFadden

Ryan McFaddenApr 22, 2026, 06:00 AM ET

CloseRyan McFadden covers the Las Vegas Raiders for ESPN’s NFL Nation. Prior to ESPN, McFadden was a Denver Broncos beat reporter for the Denver Post. McFadden also wrote about the Baltimore Ravens and University of Maryland athletics for The Baltimore Sun.Open Extended Reactions

HENDERSON, Nev. — For the Las Vegas Raiders, the luxury of having the No. 1 overall pick of the 2026 NFL draft means they can spend less energy on hypotheticals. They can set the tone for the draft by taking exactly who they want on Thursday night instead of hoping

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Ryan McFaddenApr 14, 2026, 07:52 PM ET

CloseRyan McFadden covers the Las Vegas Raiders for ESPN’s NFL Nation. Prior to ESPN, McFadden was a Denver Broncos beat reporter for the Denver Post. McFadden also wrote about the Baltimore Ravens and University of Maryland athletics for The Baltimore Sun.Open Extended Reactions

HENDERSON, Nev. — The Las Vegas Raiders are expected to keep the first pick and take quarterback Fernando Mendoza during the 2026 NFL draft, but that hasn’t stopped teams from calling general manager John Spytek about the possibility of trading for the top draft choice.

“We’ve gotten a few calls, and

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Ryan McFaddenApr 9, 2026, 06:00 AM ET

CloseRyan McFadden covers the Las Vegas Raiders for ESPN’s NFL Nation. Prior to ESPN, McFadden was a Denver Broncos beat reporter for the Denver Post. McFadden also wrote about the Baltimore Ravens and University of Maryland athletics for The Baltimore Sun.Open Extended Reactions

HENDERSON, Nev. — The Las Vegas Raiders‘ history of pairing a first-time NFL head coach with a rookie, No. 1 overall pick quarterback might temper expectations for the eventual partnership between Klint Kubiak and Fernando Mendoza, especially in Year 1.

Nearly 20 years ago, the Raiders hired Lane Kiffin

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Ryan McFaddenApr 8, 2026, 06:00 PM ET

CloseRyan McFadden covers the Las Vegas Raiders for ESPN’s NFL Nation. Prior to ESPN, McFadden was a Denver Broncos beat reporter for the Denver Post. McFadden also wrote about the Baltimore Ravens and University of Maryland athletics for The Baltimore Sun.Open Extended Reactions

HENDERSON, Nev. — Kirk Cousins is well aware of the situation he’s walking into with the Las Vegas Raiders.

Unlike in Atlanta, when he felt misled by the Falcons after they drafted quarterback Michael Penix Jr. in 2023 despite signing him to a long-term deal,

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Ryan McFaddenApr 7, 2026, 02:12 PM ET

CloseRyan McFadden covers the Las Vegas Raiders for ESPN’s NFL Nation. Prior to ESPN, McFadden was a Denver Broncos beat reporter for the Denver Post. McFadden also wrote about the Baltimore Ravens and University of Maryland athletics for The Baltimore Sun.Open Extended Reactions

The 2026 NFL draft begins on April 23 in Pittsburgh, when the Las Vegas Raiders will pick first overall in Round 1. The draft continues with Rounds 2-3 on April 24 and Rounds 4-7 on April 25 (ESPN, ABC and ESPN the app).

The Raiders have 10 total picks: Nos. 1,

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Ryan McFaddenApr 3, 2026, 06:00 AM ET

CloseRyan McFadden covers the Las Vegas Raiders for ESPN’s NFL Nation. Prior to ESPN, McFadden was a Denver Broncos beat reporter for the Denver Post. McFadden also wrote about the Baltimore Ravens and University of Maryland athletics for The Baltimore Sun.Open Extended Reactions

PHOENIX — There’s no secret that Las Vegas Raiders‘ general manager John Spytek has a strong appreciation for linemen. And that affinity was noticeable when Las Vegas signed center Tyler Linderbaum to a three-year deal worth $81 million, with $60 million fully guaranteed, making the 25-year-old the highest-paid

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Ryan McFaddenMar 31, 2026, 01:59 PM ET

CloseRyan McFadden covers the Las Vegas Raiders for ESPN’s NFL Nation. Prior to ESPN, McFadden was a Denver Broncos beat reporter for the Denver Post. McFadden also wrote about the Baltimore Ravens and University of Maryland athletics for The Baltimore Sun.Open Extended Reactions

PHOENIX — With the NFL draft three weeks away, Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak had nothing but high praise for potential top overall pick and Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza.

“He’s a winner, he’s accurate, he’s tall [and] intelligent,” Kubiak said at the annual league meeting on Tuesday.

Even though

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Ryan McFaddenMar 27, 2026, 01:41 PM ET

CloseRyan McFadden covers the Las Vegas Raiders for ESPN’s NFL Nation. Prior to ESPN, McFadden was a Denver Broncos beat reporter for the Denver Post. McFadden also wrote about the Baltimore Ravens and University of Maryland athletics for The Baltimore Sun.

HENDERSON, Nev. — Former Raiders center Barret Robbins has died at age 52, according to the team.

The cause of death was not made known.

Robbins’ former teammate — Hall of Fame wide receiver Tim Brown — was first to deliver the news of Robbins’ death in a heartfelt post on X.

Sad to hear of the

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Ryan McFaddenMar 24, 2026, 06:00 AM ET

CloseRyan McFadden covers the Las Vegas Raiders for ESPN’s NFL Nation. Prior to ESPN, McFadden was a Denver Broncos beat reporter for the Denver Post. McFadden also wrote about the Baltimore Ravens and University of Maryland athletics for The Baltimore Sun.Open Extended Reactions

MAXX CROSBY’S 48 hours in Maryland were a whirlwind.

The All-Pro edge rusher arrived in Charm City on Monday, March 9, three days after the Las Vegas Raiders agreed to a monumental deal with the Baltimore Ravens for two first-round picks in exchange for Crosby. A move that seemed

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Ryan McFaddenMar 17, 2026, 06:58 PM ET

CloseRyan McFadden covers the Las Vegas Raiders for ESPN’s NFL Nation. Prior to ESPN, McFadden was a Denver Broncos beat reporter for the Denver Post. McFadden also wrote about the Baltimore Ravens and University of Maryland athletics for The Baltimore Sun.Open Extended Reactions

HENDERSON, Nev. — Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby said he was “livid” and “confused” by the Ravens‘ decision to back out of a trade that would have sent him to Baltimore in exchange for two first-round picks due to medical concerns.

“No one will ever admit what

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