The Las Vegas Raiders have officially signed Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, to his rookie contract. The Indiana quarterback finalized a four-year deal on Thursday, coinciding with the day rookies reported for training camp.
According to reports, the contract for Mendoza is a four-year agreement valued at a fully guaranteed $57.27 million. Like other first-round selections, his contract includes a fifth-year option. This signing enables Mendoza to fully immerse himself in learning head coach Klint Kubiak’s offensive system.
Contract Negotiations Conclude
The signing concludes a period of negotiation, particularly concerning the structure of Mendoza’s signing bonus. Prior to the agreement, a person familiar with the situation indicated that the signing bonus payment was a point of contention. Mendoza’s representatives sought a single lump sum payment, a practice that has become customary for recent No. 1 overall picks.
Conversely, the Raiders’ standard practice involves paying signing bonuses in installments. The last No. 1 pick who did not receive their signing bonus in a single lump sum was Kyler Murray in the 2019 NFL Draft. The situation highlighted a difference in approach, with Mendoza’s side opposing a new precedent that would deviate from recent top pick agreements.
Before the contract was finalized, Mendoza was one of several top quarterbacks from the 2026 NFL Draft who remained unsigned as rookies reported to training camps. Other unsigned quarterbacks included Ty Simpson, Carson Beck, and Drew Allar. Quarterback contracts often present more complexities in negotiations, even when some rookie deals are slotted and predetermined.
Unsigned rookies are not permitted to participate in training camp, making the resolution of these negotiations crucial for players like Mendoza to join their teams.
Mendoza’s Role and Future with the Raiders
Despite being the No. 1 overall pick, Mendoza is not guaranteed to start the Raiders’ 2026 campaign as the primary quarterback. Veteran Kirk Cousins could potentially serve as the team’s starting quarterback early in the season. Head coach Klint Kubiak has previously expressed a preference for starting a veteran if the situation is suitable.
This scenario suggests that the upcoming season could mark the first time since 2022 that a rookie quarterback does not start in Week 1. However, Mendoza is widely regarded as the future of the Raiders organization.
The Raiders selected Mendoza as the franchise’s second No. 1 overall pick in the Common Draft Era, which began in 1967. The team previously selected LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell as the No. 1 overall pick in 2007. The selection of Mendoza follows a 3-14 season for the Raiders.
Mendoza brings a distinguished collegiate background to the Raiders. He is the reigning national champion and Heisman Trophy winner. According to NFL Research, he is only the third quarterback in the Super Bowl era to win both the Heisman and a national title before being selected No. 1 overall in the subsequent NFL Draft. The other two quarterbacks to achieve this were Cam Newton in 2011 with the Carolina Panthers and Joe Burrow in 2020 with the Cincinnati Bengals.
In his 2025 season, Mendoza led the FBS with 41 touchdown passes, demonstrating a strong winning pedigree as he officially joins the Raiders.
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Source: nfl.com
Mason Reed
Sports reporter covering football, basketball and international competitions.