Fernando Mendoza Welcomes Tom Brady Mentorship

Fernando Mendoza — viewed as a likely No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft — said the prospect of being mentored by Tom Brady if the Las Vegas Raiders select him would be “fantastic.” The 22-year-old former Indiana Hoosiers quarterback attended the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis following a National Championship season that has elevated his draft stock and made him the favorite for the top pick.

Although Brady, who became a minority owner of the Raiders in 2024, was not at the Combine, Mendoza said they had spoken briefly by phone. Mendoza called Brady the greatest quarterback ever and said the chance to learn from him would be significant: he welcomed the idea of having a mentor of Brady’s stature as he begins the long transition to the NFL.

The Raiders present an intriguing quarterback landscape. Brady is not in a coaching role, and Las Vegas has lacked a young, long-term franchise signal-caller for the past two seasons — a gap that could be filled if they use a top pick on Mendoza.

Mendoza also described a positive meeting with the Raiders’ staff. Las Vegas recently hired former Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak as head coach as the franchise looks to recover after a fourth consecutive losing season. Mendoza said the interview included discussion of past plays and drawing up concepts on the board, and he called it “great.” He acknowledged that while the Raiders hold the likely No. 1 pick, the draft remains unpredictable and said he’ll give his all to whichever team selects him.