Tom Brady welcomes Raiders No. 1 choose Fernando Mendoza on social media

[ad_1] NEW Now you can take heed to Fox Information articles!

For greater than two dozen gamers, Thursday evening marks the belief of their lifelong NFL desires. By evening’s finish, 32 prospects will hear their names known as from the NFL Draft stage in Pittsburgh.

Seven-time Tremendous Bowl winner and Las Vegas Raiders minority proprietor Tom Brady mirrored on the particular second so many younger males have been experiencing, whereas additionally sharing a message with the league’s latest rookies.

"Congratulations to all of the rookies who're becoming a member of the NFL this weekend," Brady wrote in a publish to X. "I hope you'll be able to respect this particular second… you’ve earned it by means of laborious work, self-discipline, and willpower. You’ve made your loved ones proud, together with everybody else in your journey that has supported you. However that is just the start."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Tom Brady seems to be on earlier than the sport between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Washington Commanders at SoFi Stadium on Oct. 5, 2025. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Imagn Photos)

Brady then emphasised the problem forward, urging rookies to give attention to what comes subsequent.

"If you get up tomorrow morning, simply know that your profession might be outlined by what occurs going ahead. You’ll must take all the things you do to the subsequent stage so as to compete with the world’s finest."

The Las Vegas Raiders' first general choose card is displayed throughout Spherical One of many 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on April 23, 2026. (Emilee Chinn/Getty Photos)

Brady wasn’t within the Raiders draft room, however he nonetheless had a message for the No. 1 choose, Fernando Mendoza : "Welcome to Las Vegas @fernandomendoza. Time to get to work. @Raiders."

The Raiders’ prime choose has a protracted method to go to match what the New England Patriots discovered at No. 199 in 2000 — the spot the place Brady was drafted.

Mendoza stated Brady delivered a blunt message throughout his official go to with the Raiders within the days main as much as the draft.

<source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/01/672/378/fernando-mendoza-smiles-indiana-championship-postgame.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/01/1344/756/fernando-mendoza-smiles-indiana-championship-postgame.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"> Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza celebrates after defeating the Miami Hurricanes within the Faculty Soccer Playoff Nationwide Championship recreation at Onerous Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla., on Jan. 19, 2026. (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Photos)

"It was implausible. He gave me the message that he'll push me, and he isn't going to be all lovey-dovey. And that if the Raiders draft me, he'll be a mentor and desires to pour into no matter quarterback the Raiders have — whether or not it is me, whether or not they draft someone else."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Different notable first-round strikes included the Kansas City Chiefs moving up to No. 6 and choosing LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane. A short while later, the Cowboys shook issues up, buying and selling as much as No. 11 to pick Ohio State security Caleb Downs.