Overview
- Mendoza collected his UC Berkeley undergraduate degree on Saturday when Haas dean Jenny Chatman invited him to walk at the school’s MBA commencement so he could receive his bachelor’s in business administration and management.
- He attended the NFLPA Rookie Premiere in Los Angeles from May 14–16 and told Sports Illustrated he was “really upset” that the event forced him to miss team practice he would have preferred to attend.
- The Raiders began voluntary OTAs on May 18 and have given first‑team reps to Kirk Cousins while Mendoza receives limited on‑field work, extra individual drills and a measured integration into Klint Kubiak’s under‑center offense.
- The CBA requires clubs to permit invited rookies to attend the Rookie Premiere, which explains why Mendoza missed some team time even as he expressed frustration and tried to make the most of the event.
- Mendoza finished his Cal coursework in 2025 while enrolled at Indiana, is known for a low social‑media profile, and is expected to learn behind Cousins with the team reserving its Week‑1 starter decision for on‑field evaluation.