"I would be surprised if Kaepernick doesn't get a job with Hov being in the NFL," Mensa told us on the way out of The Nice Guy in West Hollywood.

"We know the NFL is a slave game, so to have a black man in there ... especially a black man with a socially conscious responsibility, cause i know that's how Hov feels, man ... I believe that Kap gonna get that job and I believe that Hov's intentions are in the right place."

TMZ Sports broke the story ... Jay-Z will have a "significant ownership interest" in an NFL team -- a plan that will all come together in the "very near future."

Some people have been attacking Jay -- claiming he's betraying Colin Kaepernick and sold out the black community to work with the NFL.

In fact, Kap's good friend, Eric Reid, has been extremely critical of Jay -- calling the ownership move "despicable" and accusing Jay of putting money over the community.

Mensa tells us he still has tremendous respect for Kaepernick and the work he's done -- but says the community should get behind Jay buying an NFL team because ultimately it's a good thing for black people.

Mensa says "sh*t's gotta change" in the NFL ... and Jay's the guy to make it happen.

We also talked to Irv Gotti in NYC ... who is clearly apprehensive about the partnership, but willing to wait and watch what Jay has planned.

"It looks awkward, and I'm gonna give Hov the benefit of the doubt, and hopefully we'll see where Hov is taking it," Gotti says.

"But on first glace, him and Roger sitting there, and Roger not saying nothing, and Jay is doing all of the talking ..."