Raiders sign first-round pick QB Fernando Mendoza - Raiders.com

What the report says

Raiders.com reported that the Las Vegas Raiders have signed quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. The team announced the deal Thursday from Henderson, Nevada. Contract terms were not included in the club’s announcement.

Mendoza, listed by the Raiders at 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, arrives after a standout college career split between California and Indiana. Across 36 collegiate appearances, including 35 starts, he completed 691 of 1,008 passes for 8,247 yards, 71 touchdowns and 22 interceptions, according to the team.

His final college season came at Indiana in 2025, when he started every game for a 16-0 Hoosiers team that won the national championship. The Raiders said Mendoza threw for 3,535 yards with 41 touchdowns and six interceptions while completing 72.0% of his passes, a school single-season record. He also received several major honors, including the Heisman Trophy, AP Player of the Year, AP first-team All-American, Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, and the Walter Camp, Davey O’Brien and Maxwell awards.

Before transferring to Indiana, Mendoza played three seasons at California, redshirting initially and later starting 19 games. In 2024, he passed for 3,004 yards and 16 touchdowns, becoming one of the few Cal quarterbacks to reach 3,000 yards in a season. His signing is a key roster step for Las Vegas as the franchise brings its top draft selection, and potential long-term quarterback, officially under contract before his rookie NFL season.