Raiders OTAs put 2026 draft class into franchise-number spotlight, led by Fernando Mendoza

The Las Vegas Raiders began their OTA work with the 2026 draft class, giving rookies a very public reminder that football, in silver and black, comes with history attached to even the smallest details like a jersey digit. Yahoo Sports reported that Fernando Mendoza and the rest of the 2026 NFL draft class are wearing their assigned numbers as offseason practices get underway, putting a new group of players into the same numerical spotlight that has framed Raiders careers for decades.

What makes this year stand out is the Raiders’ approach to jersey numbers. Yahoo notes that the franchise does not retire numbers. In practical terms, that means rookies can end up wearing digits that once belonged to well-known Raiders players. For an organization that leans on continuity, the effect is sharper than it would be elsewhere, because there is no official “do not touch” line around those numbers. The result is a kind of unofficial passing of the torch, whether players say it out loud or not.

Fernando Mendoza’s presence at the center of that narrative underscores how jersey numbers can become part of a rookie’s first conversation with the franchise. During OTAs, when players are still learning routines, installing playbook language, and earning practice reps, the day-to-day workload is the focus. Still, the Raiders’ decision not to retire numbers adds meaning to those reps. A rookie wearing a number tied to a franchise figure is not just reporting to practice. He is also, in the eyes of fans and the media, stepping into a role that has existed before him.

It is also a useful reminder of how different NFL traditions can shape team culture. Some clubs retire numbers as a formal honor, keeping certain digits off the roster permanently. The Raiders take a different route, at least in terms of official policy, and Yahoo’s framing suggests that this spring creates a unique expectation for rookies: they inherit the comfort of familiarity without the barrier of a retired banner. That can be motivating, but it also increases the narrative pressure around performance, especially when the number is associated with memorable production in Raider history.

The 2026 draft class practices are still early in the annual development arc. OTAs are not games, and jersey numbers do not change the fundamentals of evaluation, but they do influence how a rookie is perceived and how the team might think about continuity. For Mendoza and his classmates, the numbers are visible markers that can help establish identity inside the locker room, particularly when rookies are trying to become trusted members of the unit.

For fans, this situation offers a simple watch item as the offseason progresses: which numbers the rookies occupy, and how the team chooses to treat those digits in public messaging. If the Raiders lean into the tradition, it may shape storylines in training camp and the preseason. If they do not, the numbers will still matter indirectly, as fans will connect the dots between new players and the franchise’s past, even when the team’s day-to-day priorities remain purely football-based.

Ultimately, the story here is less about nostalgia and more about how the Raiders build continuity. With no retired-number policy creating literal gaps, every offseason becomes an opportunity to reframe the franchise’s legacy through the next generation. For the 2026 draft class, including Mendoza, that means their first installment of Raiders history could start with a jersey number and a microphone stand, long before it ever starts with a highlight reel.

With that said, Yahoo’s report is centered on the conceptual link between rookies and historic numbers rather than a comprehensive review of each digit’s past owners. Any deeper list of “best” players by number would need additional verification beyond what is described in the preview. Still, the larger point is clear: OTAs are underway, the Raiders are using jersey numbers in an unusually narrative-rich way, and Fernando Mendoza is one of the first rookies to carry that symbolism into the building.