Las Vegas Raiders Make Fernando Mendoza Announcement

Candice Ward - IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Las Vegas Raiders Make Fernando Mendoza Announcement

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Yagya Bhargava | Last updated Jul 23, 2026 1:01 PM ET

Fernando Mendoza arrived in Las Vegas with plenty of expectations after the Raiders selected him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Coming off a national championship and a Heisman Trophy-winning season at Indiana, the quarterback is expected to lead the franchise into its next era.

As training camp drew closer, however, one piece of business still remained. Mendoza was one of the few first-round picks yet to sign his rookie contract, with both sides working through the payment structure of his signing bonus despite the deal falling under the NFL's rookie wage scale.

That wait is now over.

The Raiders announced on Thursday that they have signed Mendoza to a fully guaranteed four-year, $57.27 million rookie contract that includes a fifth-year team option. The holdup was never related to the total value of the contract.

Officially employed ✅

We have signed QB Fernando Mendoza.

https://t.co/3p2Ktl0B42 pic.twitter.com/4k8JzLTE8S
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) July 23, 2026

Instead, the Raiders reportedly wanted to spread out the payments of Mendoza's $38 million signing bonus, while his representatives pushed to receive the full amount upfront. Despite not having a signed contract, Mendoza remained with the team throughout the offseason.

He continued attending quarterback meetings and took part in early workouts as he got familiar with the Raiders' offense.

The 22-year-old heads to Las Vegas after one of the best seasons in college football. He threw for 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns and six interceptions while leading Indiana to a national championship and earning the Heisman Trophy before becoming the first player selected in April's draft.

The Raiders also brought in veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins this offseason, giving the team an experienced option under center. While Cousins is expected to begin the season as the starter, Mendoza is viewed as the franchise's long-term answer at quarterback.

With his rookie contract now signed, Mendoza will head into training camp with his full focus on preparing for his first NFL season.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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