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Fernando Mendoza's NFL contract could be a record. But there's a catch
TL;DR
Fernando Mendoza, the projected No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL draft, is set to receive a record-breaking rookie contract worth $54.6 million over four years. However, the contract's structure is influenced by the league's rookie wage scale.
Key points
- Fernando Mendoza is the projected No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL draft.
- His contract is projected to be worth $54.6 million over four years.
- The contract's average annual value will be $13.6 million.
- This figure breaks a 16-year record set by Sam Bradford in 2010.
- The rookie wage scale limits draftee salaries and contract lengths.
Fernando MendozaSam BradfordLas Vegas RaidersNFL Draft 2026
The No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL draft â likely Fernando Mendoza to the Las Vegas Raiders â is projected to receive the highest average annual value ever for a rookie contract.
But the raw figures donât tell the full story.
Per Spotrac, 2026âs top pick is projected to receive a four-year contract worth $54.6 million based on the rookie wage scale, which is set via the leagueâs collective bargaining agreement. Per year, that works out to $13.6 million.
On face value, the $13.6 million figure will break a 16-year league record, set in 2010 when the then-St. Louis Rams drafted Sam Bradford out of Oklahoma for $13 million per year over six seasons.
That monster deal became a symbol of the pre-2011 rookie market. The next CBA then imposed the rookie wage scale, which capped draftee salaries and contract lengths.
However, when you adjust for inflation, Bradfordâs average annual value still far exceeds what Mendoza is likely to earn. Using the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statisticsâ Consumer Price Index as a guide, Bradfordâs contract works out to $19.7 million per year, or roughly 44% higher than this yearâs projected average annual value.
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DIG DEEPER: USA TODAY's 2026 NFL mock draft
In fact, when adjusting for inflation, this yearâs projected average annual value fails to beat every No. 1 pick from 2004 through 2010. The last pick it tops was 2003, when the Cincinnati Bengals signed Carson Palmer for $7.1 million per year, or $12.8 million annually in 2026 dollars.
So, Mendoza will likely get paid the highest average annual value in nominal dollars and should be the first rookie to top $50 million since 2010. But it will take a few more years for the draft to break Bradfordâs inflation-adjusted record.
Methodology note: Average annual value based on individual player pages on Spotrac. The average annual value for the 2026 No. 1 pick is a projection from Spotracâs draft tracker. Inflation-adjusted figures are based on the and are shown in March 2026 dollars.
Q&A
What is the projected value of Fernando Mendoza's rookie contract?
Fernando Mendoza's rookie contract is projected to be worth $54.6 million over four years.
How does Mendoza's contract compare to previous NFL rookie contracts?
Mendoza's contract would break the previous record of $13 million per year set by Sam Bradford in 2010.
What is the rookie wage scale in the NFL?
The rookie wage scale is a system established by the NFL's collective bargaining agreement that caps salaries and contract lengths for drafted players.
