While none of the members of the 2026 draft class have taken the field for an actual game yet, they all received quite the welcome to the NFL moment thanks to Fanatics.<\/p>\n
Fanatics released the fourth edition of its annual The Locker Room series, which features members of the incoming rookie class receiving personalized video messages and custom jerseys from NFL legends.<\/p>\n
The rookies are intentionally paired with legends such as Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Barry Sanders based on various connections such as shared alma maters, family ties or childhood idols:<\/p>\n
The rookies arrived believing they were taking part in a typical interview and were surprised by the messages from the legends.<\/p>\n
Fernando Mendoza immediately stands out as the No. 1 pick, and perhaps it should come as no surprise Brady was the one who shared a message. After all, Brady is a part owner of the Las Vegas Raiders team that selected Mendoza No. 1 overall, and the Indiana product has made no secret<\/a> of how important it is that he learns from the all-time great.<\/p>\n Brady also had a message for first-round quarterback Ty Simpson, as the Alabama product named the New England Patriots legend as one of his all-time favorite players.<\/p>\n Elsewhere, Peyton and Eli Manning welcomed fellow quarterbacks Drew Allar and Garrett Nussmeier. Peyton Manning also discussed his time playing with Garrett’s father, Doug Nussmeier, on the Indianapolis Colts, bringing the connection into focus.<\/p>\n Sanders was paired with Arizona Cardinals running back and No. 3 overall pick Jeremiyah Love, who called the Hall of Famer his childhood hero and described watching Sanders with his father as “a core memory for me.”<\/p>\n The video also included an Ohio State connection when Eddie George welcomed Caleb Dows to the NFL and a message from Aaron Donald for No. 2 overall pick David Bailey that said, “Do you want to be good, or do you want to be great? The great ones live forever.”<\/p>\n