At this point, it would have been outrageous for the Las Vegas Raiders to NOT draft Fernando Mendoza at No. 1 overall. He had been locked into that spot for months leading into April 23, the first night of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Owner Mark Davis and minority owner Tom Brady were both in attendance for the national championship on January 19, when Mendoza led Indiana to its first title in program history, and from that point on, the connection only grew stronger.
Mendoza Faces Immediate Expectations As Tom Brady Sets the Tone Early
The Raiders made it official on Thursday, selecting Mendoza with the top pick. With the decision, he becomes just the second Indiana player ever to go No. 1 overall, joining Corbett Davis (1938), and only the 15th Hoosier to be drafted in the first round.
It is a historic moment for the program and a franchise-defining grab for Las Vegas, which is now fully committed to building around its new quarterback.
There was no easing into it. Brady, being the No. 199 overall himself, knows all about the graft, the grind, despite not having all the attention of the 1st pick.
So, he’s just asking Mendoza to lock in, because all the eyes will be on him. The message to Mendoza was clear and direct.
The Raiders minority owner took to his X account and wrote:
“Congratulations to all the rookies who are joining the NFL this weekend. I hope you can appreciate this special moment… you’ve earned it through hard work, discipline, and determination. You’ve made your family proud, along with everyone else on your journey that has supported you. But this is just the beginning.
“When you wake up tomorrow morning, just know that your career will be defined by what happens going forward. You’ll need to take everything you do to the next level in order to compete with the world’s best.
“Welcome to Las Vegas, @fernandomendoza. Time to get to work. | @Raiders”
Congratulations to all the rookies who are joining the NFL this weekend. I hope you can appreciate this special moment… you’ve earned it through hard work, discipline, and determination. You’ve made your family proud, along with everyone else on your journey that has supported…
— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) April 24, 2026
Brady is embedded in the process, tied directly to Mendoza’s development as a minority owner with strong influence inside the building. And the Raiders have not exactly been subtle about that connection. Right from attending Mendoza’s national championship game. Brady FaceTimed him during the combine. He was present for the official visit.
And this adds to the stakes even more.
Mendoza is stepping into an environment shaped by Brady’s philosophy, where preparation, discipline, and execution are baseline expectations. The margin for error shrinks when the standard is that high.
The on-field appeal checks all the boxes. Mendoza led Indiana to a 16-0 season and a national title, showing poise in high-leverage moments. In the championship game, he went 16-for-27 for 186 yards with no turnovers and a 117 passer rating. It was a composed performance under center.
He finished the 2025 season as the No. 2 overall quarterback on the PFSN’s College Football Quarterback Impact rankings with an impact score of 93.3.
That showed up again at his pro day. 53 completions on 56 attempts. Clean mechanics. Quick processing. The traits teams look for when projecting a quarterback who can operate within structure and avoid costly mistakes.
But let’s zoom out of the numbers and optics; it’s the character that comes next. Take Brady, for example; he had an obsessive, constant commitment to improvement. History has shown that proximity to greatness does not guarantee replication.
Mendoza seems aware of that balance. “It’s a battle of discipline,” he said. “I don’t believe in super balance; that’s just not how I am. I’m very type A. I believe the more inputs, the better the outputs. But you do need some balance.”
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That mindset aligns with what the Raiders are betting on. The organization has built a support system around him, from general manager John Spytek to head coach Klint Kubiak, with Brady’s influence layered throughout. Even the roster construction hints at a plan that mirrors Brady’s own path.
Still, none of that guarantees anything. The NFL does not hand out fairytale endings. It demands results. And now, with Brady watching closely and the franchise fully invested, Mendoza steps into a role where every throw, every read, every Sunday will be dissected.
