With Mendoza a question mark to start the season in the starting lineup, this upcoming season could be the first in which a rookie QB is not starting in Week 1 since 2022.
There is no doubt that Mendoza is the future of the Raiders organization.
After a dismal 3-14 season, the Raiders used the club’s second No. 1 overall pick in the Common Draft Era (since 1967) to select Mendoza. The Silver and Black selected LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell first 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 championship before being taken No. 1 overall in the NFL draft, according to NFL Research.
Bringing a winning streak and coming off a 2025 season in which he threw an FBS-leading 41 touchdowns, Mendoza has officially signed to turn around the Raiders.