Story perspectives

ESPYS Best College Athlete Mendoza Joins Raiders QB Race

7/19/2026

Summary

Mendoza Wins ESPY

Fernando Mendoza won the Best College Athlete award at the ESPYs on May 2, 2026.
He entered the NFL as the Raiders’ 1st-overall pick in the 2026 draft after posting a 72% completion rate, 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns, the Heisman Trophy and a national championship.
Mendoza will compete with veteran Kirk Cousins for the Raiders’ starting quarterback job when training camp opens.

Summary

Raiders Sign

The Raiders signed quarterback Kirk Cousins to a one-year, fully guaranteed $20 million contract with a two-year, $80 million option.
Center Tyler Linderbaum received a three-year, $81 million deal, the league’s highest-paid center.
Linebackers Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean each got three-year deals worth $40.5 million and $36 million for the defense.
Kwity Paye and Jalen Nailor each signed three-year deals worth $48 million and $35 million, respectively, to add depth at edge rush and receiver.

History

Historical Context

The NFL introduced a hard salary cap in 1994, set at $34.6 million after TV deals raised the original $32 million estimate. That cap forced teams like the Dallas Cowboys, who gave Troy Aikman a record $25 million extension, to manage payroll tightly. Today the Las Vegas Raiders’ $101 million combined offers to Kirk Cousins and Tyler Linderbaum illustrate the same cap-driven spending dynamics.

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Mendoza Wins ESPY

Fernando Mendoza won the Best College Athlete award at the ESPYs on May 2, 2026.
He entered the NFL as the Raiders’ 1st-overall pick in the 2026 draft after posting a 72% completion rate, 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns, the Heisman Trophy and a national championship.
Mendoza will compete with veteran Kirk Cousins for the Raiders’ starting quarterback job when training camp opens.

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