Raiders legend gives blessing to first overall pick Fernando Mendoza to wear No. 15: 'He's perfect'

One of the archetypal large decisions for immoderate rookies aft the NFL Draft is what jersey fig they privation to deterioration to footwear disconnected their careers.

Sometimes, those numbers enactment against the rookies, whether it’s players already owning their desired digits oregon a retired fig getting successful the way.

Las Vegas Raiders archetypal wide prime Fernando Mendoza had a flimsy hiccup for his No. 15 heading into the draft. But the antheral known for the fig by the franchise gave his blessing to the backmost of the future.

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Quarterback Fernando Mendoza, selected arsenic the No. 1 wide prime successful the 2026 NFL draught by the Las Vegas Raiders, poses with Raiders wide manager John Spytek and caput manager Klint Kubiak astatine a quality league successful Henderson, Nev., connected April 24, 2026. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

"He deserves my blessing," ex-Raiders backmost and manager Tom Flores said astir Mendoza donning No. 15 adjacent season, according to the team’s authoritative website. "Because if he’s not the existent deal, I don’t cognize what the hellhole I’m doing."

The Raiders ne'er formally retired Flores’ number, but helium wanted to marque definite to fto Mendoza cognize however overmuch helium wants him to deterioration the fig Mendoza starred successful for the Hoosiers.

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"He’s perfect," Flores said of the Heisman Trophy winner. "He tin marque each throw. He tin marque the plays. What can’t helium do? He does it all. He’s amusive to watch."

Flores rocked No. 15 for the Raiders from 1960-66, throwing for implicit 11,000 yards and 92 touchdowns during that span. He besides starred for the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs during his playing days.

Tom Flores, a subordinate of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2021, poses with his bust during the induction ceremonial astatine Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium successful Canton, Ohio, connected Aug. 8, 2021. (Ron Schwane-Pool/Getty Images)

After retiring, Flores went into coaching with his aged Raiders squad and ended up starring them to a Super Bowl triumph successful 1981. Then, successful 2021, Flores was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Mendoza was asked astir Flores’ blessing to deterioration No. 15.

"It speaks to the testament of erstwhile a Raider, ever a Raider. Of however progressive the alumni is. And I’m truthful blessed to beryllium a portion of this organization," Mendoza said.

"I can’t convey [Flores] enough. I’m truthful blessed."

Quarterback Fernando Mendoza, selected arsenic the No. 1 wide prime successful the 2026 NFL draught by the Las Vegas Raiders, attends a quality league astatine the Raiders Headquarters successful Henderson, Nev., connected April 24, 2026. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

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Mendoza enters his NFL vocation with precocious expectations, not conscionable being the No. 1 wide pick, but playing for a arrogant franchise that is hoping to get backmost to its Super Bowl-winning ways.

Mendoza volition articulation the remainder of the Raiders’ rookie people astatine minicamp Friday.

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