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MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – JANUARY 19: Fernando Mendoza #15 of the Indiana Hoosiers looks on after defeating the Miami Hurricanes 27-21 in the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship at Hard Rock Stadium on January 19, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Alex Slitz\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
The Las Vegas Raiders<\/a> certainly have a lot to look forward to this offseason, and much of that focus surrounds the projected selection of Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick.<\/p>\n Mendoza, who won the Heisman trophy<\/a> and threw for 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns, and just six interceptions in 16 games, appeared on Kay Adams\u2019 Up & Adams Show\u00a0and didn\u2019t hold back on his thoughts<\/a> about the Raiders\u2019 fanbase.<\/p>\n Fernando Mendoza on Raiders\u2019 Fanbase: \u201cThey\u2019re Diehard, They\u2019re Loyal\u201d<\/p>\n There\u2019s no way Adams isn\u2019t going to talk to Mendoza without mentioning the Raiders, and he gave his thoughts on the fanbase.<\/p>\n \u201cI was here in Berkeley, Oakland, the Raiders fans are some of the best fans in all the NFL<\/a>. They\u2019re diehard, they\u2019re loyal, and they really go all in for their team.\u201d<\/p>\n Mendoza was then asked what his message is to the Raiders\u2019 veterans like Maxx Crosby,<\/a> who will be counting on him to be the guy who can take them to the Super Bowl.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it gets a little twisted sometimes. It\u2019s not just one guy that\u2019s gonna go in and just completely supersede everything. So many great veterans on every team, including the Raiders like Maxx Crosby, just so many guys on the offensive and defensive line that are just great leaders on the team, and I believe that I\u2019m going to do everything I can and ask those veterans, \u2018Hey, how can I help as a leader? What can I do?\u2019<\/p>\n And really just give them my all and try to work with those guys. It\u2019s a team effort, and we can only do it if the team comes together. When the team comes together with the coaching staff, they can help us reach new heights.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s a great mindset to have, and it\u2019s the reason why Mendoza went from a two-star recruit coming out of high school to the projected No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.<\/p>\n Projected No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza on Raiders fans and potentially getting drafted to Las Vegas: <\/p>\n \u201cThe Raiders fans are some of the best fans in all of the NFL. They\u2019re diehard, they\u2019re loyal.\u201d<\/p>\n @heykayadams<\/a> <\/p>\n Mendoza Discusses Tom Brady<\/p>\n Along with\u00a0discussing the Raiders fanbase and his message to the team, Mendoza talked about<\/a> wanting to get a workout in with Raiders minority owner and seven-time Super Bowl champion\u00a0Tom Brady.<\/p>\n \u201cI would love to work out with him one day to see what he does and the TB12 Method. Although I\u2019ve read the book, [I would like to] see it firsthand.\u201d<\/p>\n Mendoza also touched on how Brady is a player he looks up to as someone who isn\u2019t as athletically gifted as other athletes. \u201cBecause for me, I\u2019m not the biggest, not the fastest, not the strongest. However, my key and my edge is preparation. That\u2019s someone I\u2019ve looked up to in the football space.\u201d<\/p>\n That\u2019s a very high probability that Mendoza will get his wish to work out and learn from Brady, who has spoken highly of him.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cSixteen-0, leading his team. He\u2019s another guy that when you hear him speak \u2014 [when] I always kind of judge quarterbacks, I go, \u2018How would I have answered that?\u2019 \u2014 and he\u2019s just a very mature young man. He\u2019s got a bright future. Everybody coming into the league, there\u2019s still so much room for development. Nobody\u2019s a finished product. I don\u2019t care whether you won the Heisman or you\u2019re the 199th pick in the draft. It\u2019s \u2018what 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?’\u201d<\/p>\n The Raiders will be in good hands with Tom Brady and Fernando Mendoza.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tIsaac Zuniga<\/a> is a sports reporter covering the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Chargers, and Las Vegas Raiders. More about Isaac Zuniga<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tMore Heavy on Raiders\n\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\tLoading more stories\n\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t