Tom Brady Breaks His Silence on Fernando Mendoza, Revealing How He Evaluated the Young Quarterback and What Stood Out Ahead of the NFL Draft
Brady will help decide who the Raiders will take with the top pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, and he is very high on Mendoza.
Tom Brady believes Fernando Mendoza has a ‘bright future’ in the NFL, and offered big praise for the college star.
The Indiana Hoosiers quarterback, who led his team to a 16-0 season and National Championship glory, is projected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 draft.
Mendoza is the projected top pick of the 2026 draft
That first selection belongs to the Las Vegas Raiders, where seven-time Super Bowl champion Brady owns a minority stake.
When the franchise fired Pete Carroll earlier this month, owner Mark Davis noted that Brady would collaborate closely with general manager John Spytek across all football operations.
That means he will have a hand in the search for a new HC, and perhaps, will be consulted on that all-important NFL draft pick.
The legendary QB, it seems, is very high on Mendoza after watching him inspire the Hoosiers to a win in the National Championship game against Miami at Hard Rock Stadium.
Tom Brady praises ‘tremendous’ Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza
“I’d never been to a National Championship game,” Brady began, speaking to Colin Cowherd on FS1’s The Herd.
“But just to see the kind of the environment, the atmosphere, you know, did it feel too big for anybody? And he’s played tremendous all season, 16-0, leading his team.
“He’s another guy that, when you hear him speak, I always kind of judge quarterbacks. I go, ‘How would I have answered that?’ And he’s just a very mature young man, and he’s got a bright future.
“Everybody coming to the league, there’s still so much room for development. Nobody’s a finished product.”
Brady then suggested that rookies like Mendoza will need the right kind of ‘environment’ to succeed, and urged every team in the league to help their draft picks develop.
“I don’t care whether you won the Heisman, or if you’re the 199th pick in the draft,” the NFL icon continued.
Brady has offered high praise of Mendoza ahead of the draft
The NFL legend believes all rookies need the right environment to succeed
“It’s what do you do when you get there. How important is this to you? Are you obsessed with your job? Are you obsessed with being the best you can be?
“These young men, whether it’s Fernando or a lot of other players that were on the field the other night, they have a great opportunity to do something in their life, to enhance their family’s life, to go impact a community in a positive way by playing great football and bringing joy to the fan base.
“And that’s a job you take very seriously. So, all these young prospects, I hope they go to environments that embrace them completely, that can help them develop into the best player they can be.”
Brady also admitted that much of his success came down to the environment he landed in, and noted that any top draft pick will need to be judged on how well he can play in the biggest of NFL moments.
He explained: “I found a great environment, It was all about football. It was about, you know, how can you be the best teammate?
“How can you work hard? How can you play smart? How can you play tough? How can you play well under pressure? How well can you play in tough conditions?
Fans have made it clear they want to see Mendoza taken with the No. 1 pick
“And then, ultimately, how well can you play in championship games? And all those things remain to be seen.”
There are probably few people better placed than Brady to judge a quarterback coming into the NFL. After all, the man himself is regarded as the greatest signal caller of all time.
His opinion, then, will be of paramount importance to the Raiders this year.
It seems Mendoza is already matching up to the great Brady with his mindset, and the way he speaks.
The rest, as Brady says, remains to be seen.
But if the 22-year-old prospect is willing to fully commit himself to the NFL and maximize his talents, he will surely be a hit in Las Vegas.
