The Las Vegas Raiders could take Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 pick in April’s draft.
If they do, Mendoza will be judged harshly by Raiders minority owner Tom Brady. The former NFL quarterback watched Mendoza play in Indiana’s 27-21 win over Miami in the College Football Playoff national championship on Monday night. He watched him closely.
During an appearance on “The Herd with Colin Cowherd” on Friday, Brady said he judged Mendoza based on what he would have done in his situation. While the seven-time Super Bowl champion thinks Mendoza has a bright future in the NFL, he thinks there is more room for the IU quarterback to develop.
“There’s still so much room for development,” Brady said. “Nobody’s a finished product. I don’t care whether you’re won the Heisman or you’re the 199th pick in the draft, it’s what 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 these young men, whether it’s Fernando or a lot of other players that were on field the other night, they have a great opportunity to do something in their life, to enhance their family’s life, to go impact a community in a positive way by playing great football.”