Fernando Mendoza: What the Raiders rookie QB has learned from Tom Brady

Tom Brady, minority owner of the Raiders and the most decorated quarterback in NFL history, wanted to say hello.

The exchange was filmed as part of the Raiders' "Behind the Shield" series and shared on the team's Instagram.

It shows Mendoza mid-interview prep at the Combine, visibly caught off guard, suddenly face-to-face with Brady on a screen.

What advice has Brady given Mendoza?

"I usually like to keep the talks between Tom and me private," Mendoza said during an interview with the Raiders' official YouTube channel.

"But I do think what he said as a quarterback is you need to be the most everything.

"You need to be the most competitive. You need to be the most leader. You have to have the most leadership. You need to be the toughest, mentally and physically.

"You've got to embody all these things and lead by example before getting the respect from your teammates, in order to lead effectively," he continued.

"That really resonated with me."

What Mendoza is walking into with the Raiders

The Raiders have structured the roster so Mendoza doesn't need to be thrown into the fire immediately, signing veteran Kirk Cousins on a one-year deal to hold things together while the rookie finds his feet.

Head coach Klint Kubiak has been open about the thinking, telling the media, "Ideally, you don't want him to start from Day 1. You'd love for him to learn behind somebody."

Mendoza knows his place, for now, and was full of praise for Cousins.

Ethan Miller / Staff

"He's extremely cerebral and he's been in this offense before... he's had experience with Coach Kubiak," Mendoza said.

"And I've been able to learn firsthand and secondhand, whether it's my own experiences, whether it's asking Kirk questions, or just observing the room."

While Cousins appears set to start, the clamour to start Mendoza will be intense, growing with every Cousins loss or interception.

And when his number is called, the Raiders rookie will not only be ready, but he'll have help among his supporting cast.

Ashton Jeanty is in the backfield, tight end Brock Bowers is elite, and Tyler Linderbaum, now the highest-paid centre in NFL history, is snapping him the ball.

Brady's advice to be the toughest, most competitive player on the field every week is easier said than done, and living up to those words against NFL defenses will be a tough ask.

But with the talent and composure that Mendoza has exhibited so far, he looks ready to deliver when the time comes.