Even though Fernando Mendoza has been all the talk in the NFL this offseason, he’s still unsigned by the Las Vegas Raiders. It’s actually not too uncommon for rookie quarterbacks to have their deals among the last to get inked, because those contracts are more complicated. Being a rookie quarterback comes with its own bragging rights but also its own complications.
But Mendoza’s deal taking this long is a bit concerning. We’re heading into August and still without a deal.
Now, one NFL insider is revealing the real reason this contract is taking so long. Even though it has to do with money, obviously, it’s not as simple as that.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza is still unsigned
In addition to Mendoza, Ty Simpson, Carson Beck and Drew Allar are all still unsigned heading into training camp. So, Mendoza and the Raiders aren’t alone.
USA Today’s Tyler Dragon explained why Mendoza’s deal hasn’t gone through. Earlier in July, Joel Corry of CBS Sports reported that Mendoza’s crew is requesting his signing bonus payment to be in a single lump sum. That’s customary for No. 1 overall picks in the past few years.
But, paying a bonus in a lump sum is not how the Raiders do things. That’s the problem.
“A person familiar with the Raiders process told USA Today Sports the Raiders’ standard practice is to pay signing bonuses in installments. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter,” Corry stated.
So, there you go. It’s also worth noting that according to Corry’s report, the other top-level rookie quarterbacks are “100% waiting on Mendoza. Every other team is waiting to see what they do.” If the Raiders and Mendoza can finally come to an agreement soon, it appears the entire NFL will breathe a sigh of relief.