New Raiders WR sends message to Fernando Mendoza as Tom Brady urged to reunite QB with familiar weapon

The Las Vegas Raiders have been one of the NFL’s most active teams this offseason.

One of the only positives from their 3-14 season is that they landed the first overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.

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Despite some concerns about the potential environment that awaits Mendoza, there is little to no doubt that Las Vegas will select the former Indiana Hoosiers quarterback with the top pick.

Las Vegas have prepared for his presumed arrival with a flurry of offseason additions, headlined by center Tyler Linderbaum, which have put them in an encouraging position.

Another key addition the Raiders have made this offseason was adding former Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jalen Nailor in free agency.

The Geno Smith experiment failed in 2025, and the Raiders receivers struggled to add much else, with Tre Tucker leading the pack with 696 receiving yards.

Nailor will bring a lot of experience to a young Raiders’ WR room, and is already planning on making Mendoza’s adjustment to the NFL as smooth as possible.

“First, just learning the offense. First getting in with him,” said Nailor via Sports Illustrated.

“Breaking down film. Breaking down the playbook and just trying to get on the same page, I would say.

“Then find those times on the field and off the field just to talk ball.

“Just to be in the same presence and just continuing building as a receiver and building him as a quarterback.”

Mendoza has been highly touted by scouts and analysts, and looks set to become Tom Brady’s new prodigy in Vegas.

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But new head coach Klint Kubiak and general manager John Spytek have both been vocal about not throwing Mendoza into the limelight straight away.

The Raiders have been linked with several veterans to serve as a bridge QB, including Kirk Cousins, while Derek Carr has even offered to come out of retirement to serve in a mentorship position.

Brady urged to draft Mendoza college teammate

There is little doubt that the first pick in this year’s draft is one of the most important in recent Raiders history. Adding a talent like Mendoza could set the course for the franchise for the next 10+ years.

The Raiders will also have nine more selections to make after Mendoza, and it’s critical they fill the other holes on the roster.

Despite the addition of Nailor in free agency, they are likely to add other wideouts via the draft.

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Pro Football Network’s Reese Decker’s latest mock draft has Las Vegas selecting Indiana’s WR Omar Cooper Jr. with the 36th pick.

The reasons for the selection, pointed out by PFN’s Garima Verma, are too good to turn down.

“His game is sharp, built on timing, leverage, and an almost stubborn awareness of space,” Verma wrote.

“He and Mendoza connected for nearly 1,000 yards and 13 touchdowns, but the numbers don’t quite capture the feeling of it.

“By drafting Cooper Jr., the Raiders would be giving Mendoza something rare: a piece of the game that already feels natural.

“A receiver who doesn’t need explanation in the middle of chaos. A fallback option when timing breaks down and instincts take over.”

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