With Mendoza a question mark to begin the season in the starting lineup, the upcoming season could be the first in which a rookie QB isn’t starting in Week 1 since 2022.
There is no doubt that Mendoza is the future of the Raiders organization, however.
After a dismal 3-14 season, the Raiders used the franchise’s second No. 1 overall pick in the Common Draft Era (since 1967) to pick Mendoza. The Silver and Black selected LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell No. 1 overall in 2007.
Following Cam Newton (2011, Carolina Panthers) and Joe Burrow (2020, Cincinnati Bengals), Mendoza is just the third quarterback in the Super Bowl era to win the Heisman and a national title prior to being taken No. 1 overall in the ensuing NFL draft, per NFL Research.
Bringing a winning pedigree and coming off a 2025 season in which he threw an FBS-leading 41 touchdowns, Mendoza has officially signed on to turn around the Raiders.
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