Fernando Mendoza says he would relish the chance to be mentored by Tom Brady after meeting with the Las Vegas Raiders at the NFL Scouting Combine.
The presumptive first overall pick in April’s draft spoke briefly by phone with the seven-time Super Bowl champion during his formal interview in Indianapolis.
Brady is a minority owner of the franchise, and the young prospect described the interaction as "very special".
"I mean, who hasn’t admired Tom Brady?" said the former Indiana quarterback on Friday.
"That opportunity would be fantastic. Tom Brady, I believe, was the greatest quarterback of all time by a wide margin."
Learning from a legend
Mendoza emphasized his desire to absorb knowledge from the future Hall of Famer should he land in Nevada.
"To be able to have the opportunity to be mentored by him, it would mean so much," he said.
"From day one, I have got to learn a lot. It is going to be a long journey."
The Heisman Trophy winner believes having access to such experience would be vital for his development.
"To potentially have a mentor like that, it would be pretty impressive and pretty meaningful."
Raiders hold the cards
Las Vegas hold the first selection in the draft after enduring a difficult 3-14 campaign last season.
While Mendoza is the heavy favourite to be selected first, he refused to assume his destination is guaranteed.
"Well, the pick has not been selected yet," Mendoza stated.
"Whatever team drafts me, I am extremely grateful. Whether it’s the number one pick or the last pick in the draft, I’d be blessed."
Chalk talk and silverware
The 20-minute session with the Raiders staff involved reviewing game tape and drawing plays on a whiteboard.
"It was a fantastic interview," Mendoza said. "I thought it was a great meeting, and I know they have the prospective number one pick, but anything can happen."
Mendoza enters the professional ranks following a historic undefeated season in 2025 where he led the Hoosiers to their first national championship.
His dominance was reflected in voting for college football’s most prestigious individual award, appearing on 95.16% of all ballots.
Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles solidified his status as a top-10 draft prospect with a historic 43.5-inch vertical jump at the NFL Combine.
Historic athleticism on display
The 244lb defender recorded the highest leap by an off-ball linebacker at the event since 2003 during Thursday’s workouts in Indianapolis.
Only Cameron Wake’s 45.5-inch effort in 2005 stands superior among linebackers in the last two decades.
The sheer athleticism of the 6ft 5in prospect was further highlighted by a vertical leap surpassing that of Hall of Fame receiver Calvin Johnson.
‘Megatron’ recorded a 42.5-inch jump at the 2007 combine despite playing a position traditionally associated with greater aerial ability.
Speed to match power
Styles also impressed on the track, clocking a blistering 4.46 seconds in the 40-yard dash.
That sprint time tied him for the fastest of the night with Buckeyes teammate Arvell Reese, who is currently ranked third on Mel Kiper Jr.’s big board.
To cap a dominant evening, the former safety produced an 11-foot-2-inch broad jump.
This marked the best distance across all defensive linemen and linebackers competing at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Versatility key for Styles
Currently rated as the seventh-best prospect on ESPN’s big board, Styles transitioned to middle linebacker for Ohio State last season.
Speaking earlier in the week, the versatile defender emphasised the importance of adaptability in modern defensive schemes.
“I think I would say that — the great defenses you look at, there’s at least two or three guys who can play a multitude of roles,” Styles said.
“Like for example, this year for the Seahawks, Nick Emmanwori was a versatile player, and when you have guys like that on your defense, you’re able to do a lot of different things as a coordinator.”
The New York Jets have agreed to trade pass rusher Jermaine Johnson to the Tennessee Titans in exchange for defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat.
The deal cannot be officially processed until the start of the new NFL league year in March.
Johnson, 27, becomes the third former first-round draft pick to be moved by the franchise in the last four months.
New York previously dealt star cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts and defensive lineman Quinnen Williams to the Dallas Cowboys at last year’s trade deadline.
Saleh reunited with former pass rusher
The move sees the defensive end reunite with former Jets head coach Robert Saleh, who is entering his first campaign in charge of the Titans.
Johnson was the 26th overall selection in the 2022 draft and earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2023.
He has recorded 13 sacks in 47 career games and is set to play the 2026 season on his fifth-year rookie option before becoming a free agent in 2027.
Sweat adds size to New York front
Going the other way is 24-year-old Sweat, who was selected by Tennessee in the second round of the 2024 draft.
The 6ft 4in, 366lb interior lineman established himself as the Titans’ primary run stopper last season, finishing with 34 tackles and two sacks.
Miami Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan has admitted that “everything is on the table” regarding the future of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, including a potential trade.
Speaking at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Sullivan confirmed the franchise is evaluating all options for the former fifth overall draft pick.
Tagovailoa’s representatives have informed the team that the quarterback intends to continue his playing career.
However, the general manager acknowledged that the team could look to move the 26-year-old, despite recent productive conversations.
“Everything’s on the table right now. It could go in a lot of different ways,” Sullivan said.
“A trade is a possibility, but Tua is aware, his representation is aware.”
Performance struggles and financial hurdles
The left-handed passer endured a difficult campaign last season, culminating in him being benched with three games remaining.
He threw for 20 touchdowns but also recorded a career-high 15 interceptions across 14 appearances.
Complicating any potential move is the four-year, $212.4m (£167m) extension the quarterback signed in 2024.
Releasing Tagovailoa before 1 June would result in an NFL-record $99.2m dead cap hit for the AFC East franchise.
Sullivan noted that absorbing such a financial blow is “possible but not likely” as the organisation weighs its next steps.
“[Tagovailoa’s reps] have expressed that he wants to play and that they still think he can play at a high level,” Sullivan added.
Roster overhaul continues
The uncertainty surrounding the quarterback comes amid a wider restructuring of the Dolphins’ roster.
Sullivan recently released star wide receiver Tyreek Hill and linebacker Bradley Chubb in an effort to make the squad “younger and cheaper”.
Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick finds himself in a similar position to Tagovailoa, with Sullivan confirming discussions are ongoing with the former All-Pro regarding his future.
Despite the potential exodus of veteran talent, the Dolphins view running back De’Von Achane and receiver Jaylen Waddle as integral to their rebuild.
Sullivan ruled out trading either player, describing Achane as a “marvelous player” whom the team hopes to extend later in the summer.
Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry has confirmed that Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson will compete for the starting quarterback role in 2026.
Speaking at the NFL combine in Indianapolis, Berry refused to set a timeline for naming a first-choice passer.
New head coach Todd Monken has also declined to commit to a specific starter following his recent appointment.
“We don’t have to make that decision anytime soon,” Berry said on Tuesday.
“I think any player that we have in that room we would expect to compete to earn a role. Those two would be no different.”
Sanders seeks efficiency
Sanders, selected 144th overall in the 2025 draft, finished the previous campaign with a 3-4 record as a starter.
Despite securing wins in his final two games, the second-year signal caller recorded a Total QBR of just 18.9.
That figure ranks as the fifth-lowest among qualifying quarterbacks since data collection began in 2006.
Berry emphasised the need for better decision-making from the young quarterback.
“I think the biggest thing that we want to see from Shedeur is just continued growth,” Berry explained.
“I think certainly playing more efficiently, not putting the ball in harm’s way as much would be important.”
Watson’s return to fitness
Watson is expected to be available for the 2026 season after rehabilitating a ruptured Achilles tendon suffered in October 2024.
The former Houston Texans passer has played only 19 games since Cleveland traded three first-round picks for his services in March 2022.
His performance has also drawn scrutiny, with a Total QBR of 33.1 ranking last in the league among qualifying passers during his tenure in Cleveland.
Financial implications loom large, as Watson carries a league-high $80.7m salary cap hit for the upcoming season.
The franchise is expected to restructure the deal to provide greater flexibility in free agency.
“Deshaun’s been working really hard, he’s been working his tail off,” Berry stated regarding the veteran’s recovery.
Gabriel remains in the frame
While the focus remains on Watson and Sanders, Berry noted that the Browns are also expected to explore the quarterback market this offseason.
However, the organisation has not ruled out Dillon Gabriel, a 2025 third-round pick who started six games during his rookie year.
“He may be forgotten externally, but he’s not forgotten to us,” Berry concluded.
Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio has emphatically dismissed speculation regarding a potential trade of quarterback C.J. Stroud as “moronic” and confirmed the player remains central to the franchise’s future.
Speaking at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Tuesday, Caserio rejected suggestions that the team might move on from their signal-caller following a challenging postseason.
“We are not trading the guy. He’s our quarterback,” Caserio stated.
“He’s going to be playing quarterback for the Houston Texans in 2026.”
Playoff struggles spark rumours
Discussions surrounding Stroud’s future intensified online following a difficult end to his third campaign in the league.
The 2023 number two overall draft pick endured a seven-turnover playoff run, culminating in a four-interception performance during a 28-16 divisional round defeat by the New England Patriots.
Stroud also missed three matches earlier in the season due to a concussion sustained against the Denver Broncos in Week 9.
Despite guiding the Texans to a 9-5 record in his regular-season starts, the former Ohio State standout saw his production dip compared to his debut year.
During that rookie season, he became just the fifth first-year player to surpass 4,000 passing yards and led the NFL with a superior touchdown-to-interception ratio.
Commitment to the future
In his most recent campaign, the quarterback recorded 19 touchdowns and 3,041 passing yards across 14 appearances.
Although Stroud is now eligible for a contract extension, Caserio offered no specifics regarding potential negotiations.
However, the general manager made it clear that the organisation is focused on helping the passer recapture his best form rather than exploring alternative options.
“He’s been a good player and won a lot of football games,” Caserio added.
“Quarterback is the hardest position to play in sports. He had some ups and downs — that’s natural for a position, but overall, he’s had a pretty significant impact on what we are as a program.”
Caserio concluded with a definitive message regarding Stroud’s status: “He’s not going anywhere.”
Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta is confident of agreeing a contract extension with Lamar Jackson while the team has made a “market-setting” offer to Tyler Linderbaum.
DeCosta said he is “definitely” optimistic a deal can be reached with the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player following discussions in Indianapolis.
The Ravens face a pressing deadline, as Jackson is set to count $74.5m against the salary cap this season – the second-highest figure in the league.
Managing the salary cap
Baltimore likely needs to restructure the quarterback’s deal or sign a fresh extension by the start of the league year on 11 March to free up funds for free agency.
“Lamar and I have an agreement [that] we handle business kind of in-house internally,” DeCosta said at the NFL scouting combine on Tuesday.
“I have spoken to Lamar about a lot of different things over the last month… He’s been very engaged.”
An extension would likely create $30m in cap space and secure the 29-year-old’s services for another three to four years.
Should an agreement fail to materialise, owner Steve Bisciotti has indicated the franchise would restructure the existing contract, though this would significantly raise his cap number for the final year of his deal in 2027.
Linderbaum offer on the table
Alongside negotiations with their star passer, the Ravens are prioritising a new deal for Linderbaum before free agency begins.
DeCosta confirmed the organisation has submitted a “market-setting” proposal to the 25-year-old but ruled out using the franchise tag.
“He’s proven to be, in my opinion, the best center in the league,” DeCosta added.
“We’ve had conversations since the end of the season, and at this point in time, we’ve made him a market-setting offer.”
Linderbaum is the first Baltimore offensive lineman to earn three consecutive Pro Bowl selections since Marshal Yanda’s dominant run ending in 2016.
Any new deal would likely need to exceed the $18m per season earned by Kansas City Chiefs center Creed Humphrey, the current benchmark at the position.
New Atlanta Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham has confirmed quarterback Kirk Cousins will be released on 11 March, the first day of the new league year.
Cunningham informed the 37-year-old and his agent of the decision recently, according to an interview on 92.9 The Game.
The move formally ends a complex two-year association between the franchise and the veteran passer.
Speaking to local media at the NFL Scouting Combine, Cunningham was definitive about the team’s future plans.
“We won’t re-sign Kirk,” Cunningham said.
When asked if there was any possibility of retaining the four-time Pro Bowler on a reduced salary, the general manager confirmed there was not.
Financial implications
The decision comes as little surprise following a contract restructure negotiated by the previous regime earlier this year.
That adjustment guaranteed significantly more money for the 2027 season, a figure that would have vested had he remained on the roster beyond mid-March.
By releasing Cousins with a 1 June designation, Atlanta will save $2.1m in salary cap space.
However, the NFC South club will still absorb substantial dead money charges across the 2026 and 2027 financial years.
A turbulent tenure
Cousins’ time in Georgia was defined by the organisation’s decision to draft Michael Penix Jr just six weeks after signing the veteran in free agency.
After recovering from an Achilles tear to lead the team to a 6-3 start in 2024, an arm injury and a dip in form led to his benching.
The Falcons committed to Penix as their starter for the 2025 campaign, leaving Cousins on the periphery during training camp.
However, a torn ACL for Penix in Week 11 thrust the 14-year veteran back into the line-up.
Cousins rallied the team to a four-game winning streak to close out the season, finishing with a 5-3 record as a starter compared to Penix’s 3-6.
He concluded his final year in Atlanta with 1,721 passing yards, 10 touchdowns and five interceptions.