Watch: Raiders top pick QB Fernando Mendoza takes practice field for first time
For the first time since he was drafted by the Raiders at No. 1 overall, Fernando Mendoza took the practice field. Take a look.
Fernando Mendoza has hit a lot of milestones lately. He won the Heisman, then the National Championship, then became was drafted first overall to the Raiders . And now he has donned a Raiders jersey and taken the field for the first time with his new team.
The future 15 now. #RaiderNation pic. twitter.
com/dJBHfKR1Ra ā Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) May 1, 2026 Mendoza is taking the field with his fellow rookies for the Raiders Rookie minicamp which will take place over the next three days at the team's facility in Henderson. This is the first step on what he and the Raiders hope is a long journey as the team's franchise quarterback. You may notice there is no shield on the helmet.
None of the players have them yet. It used to be more common that the helmets didn't have the logo on it at this juncture, but for the past 15 years, they have. The new staff said the players have to earn the shield on their helmet, which is an interesting approach, though I suppose it will make it all the more special when the day comes that they do.