If the Las Vegas Raiders do decide to select Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, could the Day 2 pick a wide receiver, more specifically in the second round?
There are plenty of wideouts that the Raiders could target at the top of the second round, as there’s also the possibility that one first-round talent can slip into Round 2. As for a potential name, there’s Notre Dame Fighting Irish star Malachi Fields.
Should the Silver and Black consider the Fields in the second round, he stated on March 24 what any team that selects him can expect.
“Physical, dominant, [and] one who’s going to make some plays,” Fields told NFL Network’s StaceyDales. “… A playmaker, a guy who’s going to come in and work hard and do whatever is asked of me.”
Moreover, Fields noted that his experience as a quarterback would make him an ideal candidate for a connection with the signal-caller.
“I think I always knew I wanted to play receiver,” Fields added. “In high school, we didn’t really have anyone to play quarterback, so I stepped into that role. But it helped me learn more patience, because the quarterback sees a lot more than just the receiver. They have to check protection, see who’s high, who’s not, see the blitzes and stuff coming. So there’s a lot more to it than just me thinking I’m open.”
Raiders Urged to Consider Drafting Malachi Fields
So, the question is: Is Fields a serious target for the Raiders? Well, CBS Sports’ Charles Davis believes that the former Notre Dame star should be on Las Vegas’ radar.
“Malachi Fields is not going to be a burner, but he is a big target who will catch everything thrown his way and be in the right spot at the right time,” Davis said on the March 20 edition of “Unnecessary Roughness.”
“The kid out of Notre Dame feels like a second-round receiver. He looks like the type of player who will be available, someone a team can go get and plug in right away because he comes across as a mature young man.”
Fields had 36 catches for 630 yards and scored five touchdowns in 12 games during the 2025 college football season for the Fighting Irish, per StatMuse.
Malachi Fields Is a High Character Draft Prospect
Moreover, not only does Davis spotlight why Fields makes sense for the Raiders in the second round, but he also notes that the character would fit with what Las Vegas is trying to build in this new era under Mendoza.
“Remember, he’s a University of Virginia [and] Notre Dame kid,” Davis added. “I know things have changed with the NIL era, but I’m still old school. When I hear University of Virginia and Notre Dame, I really have an idea of what kind of kid I think I’m getting.”
It will be interesting to see if the 6-foot-4 frame will be too much to pass for the Raiders to ensure that Mendoza or whoever they have under center has a big target like Fields to throw the ball to next season.