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Tom Brady has no plans to be “all lovey-dovey” if the Raiders select Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, beginning Thursday night in Pittsburgh.
During a Wednesday appearance on “The Dan Patrick Show,” Mendoza recalled his “fantastic” meeting with Brady, a Raiders co-owner, and their conversation about a potential future in Las Vegas.
“I met him in the official 30 visit at the Raiders,” the former Indiana quarterback said of Brady. “He gave me the message that he’s going to push me, and he’s not going to be all lovey-dovey – and that if the Raiders draft me, he is going to be a mentor and wants to pour into whatever quarterback the Raiders have — whether it’s me or whether they draft somebody else.”
"He gave me the message that he's going to push me, and he's not going to be all lovey-dovey – and that if the #Raiders draft me, he's going to be a mentor and wants to pour into whatever QB the Raiders have."
– @fernandomendoza on meeting Tom Brady & watching Kirk Cousins film pic.twitter.com/gMlue6ERXu
Assuming the Raiders draft Mendoza, he’ll have a veteran in Kirk Cousins to serve as another mentor.
Las Vegas signed the 37-year-old Cousins, who will embark on his 15th NFL season, earlier this month.
“If I’m lucky enough to go to the Raiders, I think it’ll be a great opportunity to be able to learn from someone who’s had so much success throughout the years and who I think has a very similar playing style as me,” Mendoza said of Cousins, adding that he watched the QB’s film to study his throws during his Vikings days.
Cousins and new Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak spent three seasons together in Minnesota, with Kubiak then serving as the team’s quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator.
Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza looks to throw a pass during the school’s NFL football pro day on April 1, 2026. AP
Tom Brady of the Founders FFC attends the Practice and Press Conferences during the Fanatics Flag Football Classic at BMO Stadium on March 20, 2026 in Los Angeles.. Getty Images for OBB Media – FANATICS STUDIOSDespite the hype around the projected No. 1 overall pick, Mendoza won’t be in Pittsburgh for this year’s draft.
He informed the league that he is not planning to attend the draft and will share the draft experience with his family in Miami.
The first round of the NFL draft kicks off Thursday, with the second and third rounds set for Friday and rounds four through seven taking place Saturday.
The Jets hold the No. 2 pick.
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