Overview
- Indiana’s Heisman winner officially entered the 2026 NFL Draft after a 16–0 title season with 3,535 passing yards, 41 touchdowns, six interceptions and a 72% completion rate.
- Las Vegas owns the top pick after a 3–14 year and is searching for a head coach, with Brady expected to collaborate closely with general manager John Spytek on football decisions.
- Brady told Colin Cowherd that Mendoza is a very mature prospect with a bright future, while stressing that success depends on development and the environment a team provides.
- ESPN’s evaluation noted a 53.2% completion rate when throwing on the move and only about 3% of snaps taken under center at Indiana, outlining clear early NFL adjustments.
- Analysts pressed the Raiders to build protection and support for a potential rookie starter, with Jason Fitz placing accountability on Brady, Dan Patrick urging against taking Mendoza first, and viral fan moments keeping the quarterback in the spotlight.