Las Vegas Raiders first-round pick Fernando Mendoza has not signed his rookie contract. The 2025 Heisman Trophy winner and top overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft is one of two unsigned first-round players. Negotiations center on the payment schedule for his signing bonus.
Mendoza's four-year deal carries a $38,111,344 signing bonus and $57,270,598 in total value. The contract terms follow the standard rookie wage scale established after the 2011 collective bargaining agreement. The primary issue involves the Raiders' preference for staggered bonus payments. Their recent first-round picks received 77.5 percent of the bonus within 15 days, with the rest spread into September and October. Top draft picks have increasingly received full lump-sum payments. Quarterback Ty Simpson, selected 13th overall by the Los Angeles Rams, adds pressure. Simpson's camp seeks a lump-sum bonus and no offset clauses, consistent with recent Rams practices. The Raiders have not confirmed whether they will adjust their standard schedule for Mendoza.
