Fernando Mendoza is preparing for his initial NFL season with the Las Vegas Raiders. The team selected Mendoza as the top pick in the 2026 draft following his impressive lead of the Indiana Hoosiers to an undefeated season and a national championship in 2025. Mendoza added the Heisman Trophy to his achievements last year, yet he acknowledges much to learn as an NFL player.
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The Raiders’ offensive coordinator, Andrew Janocko, has been working with quarterbacks Fernando Mendoza and Kirk Cousins during minicamp at the Intermountain Health Performance Center in Henderson, Nevada, as of June 9, 2026. (Image Credit: Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)
Mendoza shared advice from Raiders minority owner Tom Brady, received during his first two months with the team: “As a quarterback, you need to be the most competitive and the most leader. You need to exhibit the most leadership,” he stated via the Raiders’ YouTube page.
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Tom Brady, part owner of the Raiders, provided encouragement to players during a mock game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on August 2, 2025. (Image Credit: L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Brady emphasized the importance of being both mentally and physically tough. He advised embodying these qualities and leading by example to earn respect and lead effectively.
Mendoza will also have Kirk Cousins as a resource, though Cousins clarified that he doesn’t view their dynamic as a traditional mentor-mentee relationship. “To say I’m mentoring them is more narrative than truth,” Cousins noted via The Athletic. “They are talented and experienced. I learn from them and ask questions as well.”
Mendoza, the No. 1 overall draft pick for the Raiders in 2026, addressed the media at the Raiders Headquarters in Henderson, Nevada, on April 24, 2026. (Image Credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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It’s yet to be confirmed if Mendoza will be the starter in Week 1. Cousins remains a potential choice, having signed a two-year, $12.6 million contract with the Raiders in the offseason.
Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.
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