Tom Brady offers advice incoming NFL rookies, welcomes Fernando Mendoza after Raiders make him the top pick

For much than 2 twelve players, Thursday nighttime marks the realization of their lifelong NFL dreams. By night’s end, 32 prospects volition perceive their names called from the NFL Draft signifier successful Pittsburgh.

Seven-time Super Bowl victor and Las Vegas Raiders number proprietor Tom Brady reflected connected the peculiar infinitesimal truthful galore young men were experiencing, portion besides sharing a connection with the league’s newest rookies.

"Congratulations to each the rookies who are joining the NFL this weekend," Brady wrote successful a station to X. "I anticipation you tin admit this peculiar moment… you’ve earned it done hard work, discipline, and determination. You’ve made your household proud, on with everyone other connected your travel that has supported you. But this is conscionable the beginning."

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Tom Brady looks connected earlier the crippled betwixt the Los Angeles Chargers and the Washington Commanders astatine SoFi Stadium connected Oct. 5, 2025. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Imagn Images)

Brady past emphasized the situation ahead, urging rookies to absorption connected what comes next.

"When you aftermath up time morning, conscionable cognize that your vocation volition beryllium defined by what happens going forward. You’ll request to instrumentality everything you bash to the adjacent level successful bid to vie with the world’s best."

The Las Vegas Raiders' archetypal wide prime paper is displayed during Round One of the 2026 NFL Draft astatine Acrisure Stadium successful Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, connected April 23, 2026. (Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

Brady wasn’t successful the Raiders draught room, but helium inactive had a connection for the No. 1 pick, Fernando Mendoza: "Welcome to Las Vegas @fernandomendoza. Time to get to work. @Raiders."

The Raiders’ apical prime has a agelong mode to spell to lucifer what the New England Patriots recovered astatine No. 199 successful 2000 — the spot wherever Brady was drafted.

Mendoza said Brady delivered a blunt connection during his authoritative sojourn with the Raiders successful the days starring up to the draft.

Indiana Hoosiers backmost Fernando Mendoza celebrates aft defeating the Miami Hurricanes successful the College Football Playoff National Championship crippled astatine Hard Rock Stadium successful Miami Gardens, Fla., connected Jan. 19, 2026. (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)

"It was fantastic. He gave maine the connection that he's going to propulsion me, and he's not going to beryllium each lovey-dovey. And that if the Raiders draught me, he's going to beryllium a mentor and wants to determination into immoderate backmost the Raiders person — whether it's me, whether they draught idiosyncratic else."

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Other notable first-round moves included the Kansas City Chiefs moving up to No. 6 and selecting LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane. A abbreviated clip later, the Cowboys shook things up, trading up to No. 11 to prime Ohio State information Caleb Downs.

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