NFL Draft Prospect Fernando Mendoza Expected To Sign Top Rookie Contract Ever

BusinessEditors' PickNFL Draft Prospect Fernando Mendoza Expected To Sign Top Rookie Contract EverIndiana University quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, is projected to be taken by the Las Vegas Raiders with the first overall pick in the NFL draft on Thursday night.Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesByHank Tucker,Forbes Staff. Hank Tucker is a Forbes staff writer covering finance and investing.Follow AuthorApr 23, 2026, 06:30am EDTA strict wage scale has curbed deals for No. 1 overall picks, but thanks to a salary-cap spike, the first name called Thursday night should finally exceed the record $50 million guarantee from 16 years ago—and he’ll have company.@font-face{font-family: "Highlander"; src: url("https://i.forbesimg.com/assets/fonts/highlander/highlander-bold.woff2") format("woff2"); font-weight: 700; font-style: normal;} @font-face{font-family: "Merriweather"; src: url("https://i.forbesimg.com/assets/fonts/merriweather/merriweather-bold-webfont.woff2") format("woff2"), url("https://i.forbesimg.com/assets/fonts/merriweather/merriweather-bold-webfont.woff") format("woff"); font-weight: 700; font-style: normal;} @font-face{font-family: "Graphik"; src: url("https://i.forbesimg.com/assets/fonts/graphik/graphik-bold.woff2") format("woff2"), url("https://i.forbesimg.com/assets/fonts/graphik/graphik-bold.woff") format("woff"); font-weight: 700; font-style: normal;} @font-face{font-family: "Highlander"; src: url("https://i.forbesimg.com/assets/fonts/highlander/highlander-regular.woff2") format("woff2"); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal;} @font-face{font-family: "Merriweather"; src: url("https://i.forbesimg.com/assets/fonts/merriweather/merriweather-regular-webfont.woff2") format("woff2"), url("https://i.forbesimg.com/assets/fonts/merriweather/merriweather-regular-webfont.woff") format("woff"); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal;} @font-face{font-family: "Graphik"; src: url("https://i.forbesimg.com/assets/fonts/graphi...