Raiders sign 2026 No. 1 pick Mendoza to $57.27M fully guaranteed rookie deal

The Las Vegas Raiders signed 2026 No. 1 overall pick quarterback Fernando Mendoza to a four-year, $57.27 million fully guaranteed contract with a fifth-year option, according to ESPN. The deal was announced Thursday, July 23, removing offseason uncertainty before the team's draft class reports to training camp.

Mendoza becomes the first player the Raiders have drafted first overall since JaMarcus Russell in 2007. The signing also completes the Raiders' 2026 draft class, with all 10 picks now under contract. The Raiders' draft cohort will report for training camp on July 23, while veterans are scheduled to arrive on July 28, with the first practice set for July 29, per the team's timeline.

Mendoza will compete for the starting job at training camp against veteran Kirk Cousins and backup Aidan O'Connell. Cousins, signed by Las Vegas in the offseason, currently holds an advantage in the competition. According to ESPN's reporting, Cousins received most of the first-team repetitions during the Raiders' offseason program, while Mendoza worked primarily with the third-team offense and received occasional second-team snaps.

The structure of the contract, announced by the team and not independently verified, includes full guarantees across the four-year term. The fifth-year option provides the Raiders with contract flexibility beyond the initial deal.

One other first-round pick remains unsigned: Los Angeles Rams quarterback Ty Simpson, also from the 2026 class, per ESPN's reporting. The remaining uncertainty around Simpson's deal stands apart from Mendoza's resolution.

Mendoza's development will unfold under the structure Cousins' signing created. The Raiders brought in the veteran to start the season while the rookie works toward NFL readiness, a common strategy for teams selecting a QB early. How Mendoza progresses through training camp and preseason will shape the franchise's quarterback timeline over the coming weeks.