1
Fernando MendozaQB
Las Vegas Raiders. 4-year deal worth $57,270,598.
Signing bonus
$38,111,344
Guaranteed
$57,270,598
Year one, paid
$38,996,344
Year one, kept
$22,516,321
Whole contract, after taxes and the agent: 58% of the headline.
Where the money goes
Every 2026 NFL rookie earns the same $885,000 base salary in year one, paid in 18 weekly game checks. After taxes that is about $30,334 a week, during the season only. The real money for a pick like this is the $38,111,344 signing bonus, which lands as one lump sum.
Bonus checks are withheld at a flat 22% federal on the first $1 million and 37% above that, plus Medicare and state tax. Many states tax a signing bonus only where the player lives, which is why where a rookie lives the day it is paid can matter.
These figures assume he lives in Nevada, files single, and pays a standard agent fee. Change any of that in the calculator to see your own version.
Quick answers
How much is Fernando Mendoza's rookie contract?+
Fernando Mendoza, pick 1 in the 2026 NFL draft, signed a 4-year contract worth $57,270,598 with the Las Vegas Raiders, including a $38,111,344 signing bonus.
How much does Fernando Mendoza take home after taxes?+
About $22,516,321 of the $38,996,344 paid in the first year, and about $33,063,153 of the full $57,270,598 contract, living in Nevada and paying a standard agent fee. Estimates for education.
Contract figures from Spotrac, Over The Cap, and Hoops Rumors (2026). Take-home is a KeepMyCheck estimate using 2026 tax rules. Not affiliated with the player, team, or league. Education only.