Cuban-American quarterback Fernando Mendoza is officially a player for the Las Vegas Raiders after signing a four-year rookie contract worth $57.3 million, fully guaranteed.
The signing took place this Thursday, coinciding with the arrival of the rookie players at training camp, according to reported iHeartRadio.
The agreement includes an option for the team to extend it for a fifth season.
The NFL confirmed the contract and specified that its exact value amounts to 57.27 million dollars.
Mendoza, the winner of the 2025 Heisman Trophy, was selected by the Raiders with the first overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, an unprecedented achievement for a player of Cuban descent.
"I'm eager to get to work and show what I can do at the next level," said the young athlete after formalizing his joining the Las Vegas franchise.
The future of the Raiders
At just 22 years old, Mendoza is seen as the Raiders' great future prospect, although he is expected to start the season as the backup to veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins, who is 37.
The team, however, plans to give him opportunities with the first unit during training camp, which will allow him to compete and speed up his adaptation to professional American football.
The organization is committed to a gradual development of the young player, leveraging Cousins' experience while Mendoza acclimates to the pace, demands, and offensive systems of the NFL.
His arrival also marks a new chapter in the history of the Raiders, a franchise closely associated with several Heisman Trophy winners and known for its traditional silver and black colors.
A historic university career
Mendoza was born in Miami and is the grandson of four Cuban immigrants: three of his grandparents were born in Havana and one in Santiago de Cuba.
His rise in sports reached a historic moment in December 2025, when he became the first Cuban-American to win the Heisman Trophy, the most prestigious honor in college football.
He was also the first player from Indiana University to receive the award since its inception in 1935.
During the 2025 season, Mendoza led the Indiana Hoosiers to a perfect campaign of 16 wins and no losses, achieving the program's first national championship by defeating the Miami Hurricanes 27-21 in the final held at Hard Rock Stadium.
The quarterback finished that season with 3,535 passing yards, 41 touchdown passes, and only six interceptions. His performance made him the most sought-after figure in the 2026 Draft.
The Raiders selected him with the first overall pick of the event, making him the first player of Cuban descent chosen in that position in NFL history.
Mendoza also became the twenty-sixth winner of the Heisman Trophy selected with the first overall pick in professional recruitment.
Commitment Beyond Sports
Before making the definitive leap to the NFL, Mendoza also garnered attention for his commitment to the fight against multiple sclerosis, a disease that his mother, Elsa Mendoza, suffers from.
In April, he announced the creation of the Mendoza Family Fund and a personal donation of 500,000 dollars aimed at funding research and support programs for affected families.
With the contract now signed, Mendoza officially begins his professional career as one of the biggest promises in the NFL and a historic figure for the Cuban-American community in the United States.
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