Fernando Mendoza: Potential No 1 NFL Draft pick would love Tom Brady mentorship with Las Vegas Raiders
Quarterback Fernando Mendoza is projected top overall pick in 2026 NFL Draft; Las Vegas Raiders hold No 1 selection and Tom Brady is a minority owner; Mendoza revealed he has interviewed with Raiders and it would "mean so much" to work with seven-time Super Bowl winner
Friday 27 February 2026 18:35, UK
Fernando Mendoza - the potential No 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft - says the opportunity to be mentored by Tom Brady if he is selected by the Las Vegas Raiders would be "fantastic".
The former Indiana Hoosiers quarterback was attending the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Friday after a National Championship-winning season in college that has made him the hot favourite to be taken by the Raiders with the top selection.
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Las Vegas have one of the more intriguing quarterback situations in the NFL, as seven-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback Brady became a minority owner in 2024.
Although Brady is not directly involved in coaching, the Raiders haven't had a young, potential face of the franchise in the past two years for Brady to mentor. That is expected to change if the franchise invest a high NFL Draft pick in a quarterback.
While Brady was not present in Indianapolis, 22-year-old Mendoza said they had spoken on the phone briefly, and was asked what he would think of working with the NFL legend.
He said: "Yeah, I mean, who hasn't admired Tom Brady? I mean, more Super Bowl rings than anybody ... anybody!
"So, that opportunity would be fantastic.
"Brady, I believe, is the greatest quarterback of all time - by a wide margin - and to be able to have the opportunity to be mentored by him would mean so much.
"Especially to learn, and I'm all about learning. So from day one, I've got to learn a lot.
"It's going to be a long journey, and to potentially have a mentor like that, it would be pretty impressive and pretty meaningful."
Mendoza revealed that he had a "great" meeting with the Raiders, who appointed Super Bowl-winning Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak as their head coach earlier this month as they look to rebuild after a fourth straight losing season.
Although he admitted there's no guarantee he will end up in Las Vegas after April's event in Pittsburgh, Mendoza was enthused about his meeting with the team.
"It was a fantastic interview," he said.
"The coaching staff were in there. We went over some of my previous plays and drew some plays on the board.
"I thought it was a great meeting, and I know they have the prospective No 1 pick, but anything can happen in the draft. I'm just excited for the opportunity.
"Whatever team drafts me, I'm just going to give everything I have to them."
