Is Tom Brady Holding Back Fernando Mendoza The Right Move?

Las Vegas Raiders part owner Tom Brady has said over and over, going all the way back to last year’s NFL postseason, that whoever gets drafted will sit. Remembering how advantageous sitting, learning and watching were to his early development. One of the key things he said was holding Mendoza off until the team was ready for him, but what did he mean?

Everyone remembers Brady sat his rookie year, so did Patrick Mahomes. Many more quarterbacks didn’t; some enjoyed success early. Others learned on the job and eventually crafted themselves into champions. Some careers got ruined behind a team that couldn’t protect its best player.

The case for sitting

Brady’s rookie offense, led by the mighty Drew Bledsoe, was ranked 25th in points, 25th in total yards, 11th in passing attempts, 20th in passing touchdowns, 26th in rushing yards, and 25th in rushing touchdowns. Further complemented by 8th in sacks allowed, 23rd in third-down conversions and 24th in red zone percentage. Offensively, they were entering offensive coordinator Charlie Weiss first year on the job. Sitting allowed Brady and Weiss time on the sideline to sit and watch the whole game in real time and talk it out together.

An experience which proved to be invaluable when Brady had to take over for Bledsoe in his second season. The amount of mental reps taken while obtaining visual reinforcements on preparation at the same time can’t be understated. He got to learn the game in real time without taking the beatings Bledsoe was and learning the ins and outs of the system next to his offensive coordinator.

Patrick Mahomes was largely a surprise pick. During his rookie year, Alex Smith was playing the best football of his career, making the Pro Bowl and the Chiefs won the division. There was absolutely no need for him to do anything but sit on the bench and consume, digest and absorb what he saw.

Two opposite extremes, but both solid cases for sitting Mendoza for the majority of the year and letting him get his feet wet slowly. Completely understandable, but there is another option.

The case for not sitting him

Today’s NFL is a passing league and coaches don’t have the luxury of sitting rookies to learn. Rookies don’t have the luxury of training camp to get up to speed; they now need to be an All-Pro by day 1. However, top draft picks have produced in their rookie seasons and turned franchises around immediately.

Jayden Daniels comes to mind; the Commanders finished the 2023 season at 4-13, firing head coach Ron Rivera. Daniels, named 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year, won 12 games in his rookie season, reaching the NFC Conference Championship.

Joe Burrow was the last Heisman Trophy and National Championship-winning quarterback before Mendoza. He started his rookie season and by year two he and the Cincinnati Bengals were a score away from winning the Super Bowl. Andrew Luck is a closer overall comparison to Mendoza, who took the previously 2-14 Indianapolis Colts and led them to back-to-back 11-5 records, playoff appearances and one division title in his first two seasons.

Caleb Williams had a terrible year under Matt Eberflus, but with offensive coordinator guru turned head coach Ben Johnson, he resumed looking like the world beater he was in college. He is now currently on the cover of Madden 27.

Final Thoughts

Whether Mendoza starts or sits, one thing is for sure: whenever head coach Klint Kubiak and the Raiders brass decide to go with Mendoza, he’s the guy. There shouldn’t be any back and forth, he needs to be the guy until he either retires or the day they let him go. What should be the largest determining factor is how well the offensive line plays in training camp.

Personally, it’s my belief that Mendoza’s greatest weapon is his ability to process and make quick decisions. Grasping the concepts and intricacies of Kubiak’s offense should be easy for him. Physically, there isn’t a question of who is superior between Mendoza and heir apparent Kirk Cousins. If the Raiders are solid up front can run the football and protect the passer, then, respectfully to Brady, start the kid.