The Las Vegas Raiders have almost three months to do their homework on former Indiana Hoosiers QB Fernando Mendoza. Once the first round starts on April 23, the question will be whether the Silver and Black will select their next franchise QB, which draft experts believe will happen.
With the draft evaluation process already underway, many will ask what NFL comp will Mendoza get from those who have followed him closely during the 2025 college football season, to those who just watched his College Football Playoff run to the national title.
Atlanta Falcons veteran QB Kirk Cousins said he sees his game in Mendoza when speaking to Yahoo! Sports on Feb. 6.
“My wife told me that there’s a lot out there about how we’re similar look, similar style, play, [and] similar vibe,” Cousins said. “I can see it; I can see the look. I can see the style play. He seems like a cerebral guy and pretty analytical, and certainly, I think of myself in that same vein.
“So I didn’t get to go No. 1 overall, which he probably will. So that’s where the differences start to show up. But I’m sure he’s got a great career ahead of him.”
Kirk Cousins Offers Advice for Fernando Mendoza
Meanwhile, Cousins also offered veteran advice to Mendoza as the young signal-caller embarks on his NFL journey in a few months.
“I’d give the advice that Mike Shanahan gave me when I was early in my career: Tough times don’t last; tough people do,” Cousins added. “You just got to stay the course, keep playing, play through the challenges, just get back on the horse every day, no matter what happens, and believe that if you do that, good things will happen to Sam Darnold or to Drake Maye this year. But he seems like a resilient kid who probably already knows all that, and it’ll serve him well.”
Fernando Mendoza Sends Message to Raiders’ Tom Brady
With all signs pointing to the Raiders drafting Mendoza, the quarterback noted that his desire to learn from the team’s minority owner, Tom Brady.
“[It] would be great to learn Tom Brady’s pliability routines at Planet Fitness because he’s been in the game for so long, has had such a long career,” Mendoza said on Feb. 6, during an appearance on “Up& Adams.” “I would love to work out with him one day to see what he does and the TB12 Method. Although I’ve read the book, [I would like to] see it firsthand.”
Mendoza went into detail about his admiration for Brady, who was in attendance to watch the draft prospect in person during the national title game against the Miami Hurricanes.
“I actually didn’t know he was there until after the game,” Mendoza added. “That was special to me. I’ve looked up to Tom Brady [and] he’s has been a football idol of mine, especially with the nutrition, the way that he has systems and processes to then get to the offseason and really elevate his game.
“Because for me, I’m not the biggest, not the fastest, not the strongest. However, my key and my edge is preparation. That’s someone I’ve looked up to in the football space.”
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