The Las Vegas Raiders may not be on the clock yet, but Maxx Crosby has already nudged Fernando Mendoza into the center of the franchise’s offseason conversation.
Speaking on Jim Gray’s Let’s Go podcast, the Raiders’ defensive leader was asked about the quarterback many evaluators expect to be the first name called in the 2026 draft. Crosby didn’t predict the future, but his reaction revealed genuine admiration.
“I don’t know him at all, so I can’t speculate on that, but I will say his interviews, unbelievable,” Crosby said. “When I’ve seen the first one, they beat Ohio State in the Big Ten championship.
“I’m not gonna lie, I was not expecting that at all, but that was one of the funniest things I have ever seen. It was so genuine and hilarious at the same time, but you could just tell he’s a winner.”
Crosby leaned further into Mendoza’s trajectory, praising the unlikely rise of a player who was never viewed as a blue-chip recruit.
“He’s gonna have an incredible career in the NFL,” Crosby added. “Yeah, he’s a hell of a player, man. His story is unique.
“He wasn’t the biggest recruit or anything like that, but he’s built himself into a winner and is about to be a national champion. It’s incredible.”
Mendoza’s numbers explain why the buzz keeps growing. The junior redshirt quarterback has completed 73 percent of his passes for 3,349 yards and 41 touchdowns, leading college football in total touchdowns and quarterback rating at 90.2.
His latest showcase came in a 56-22 win over Oregon, where he completed 17 of 20 passes for 177 yards and five touchdowns, further separating himself from fellow prospect Dante Moore in the debate for the top quarterback in the class.
For the Raiders, the appeal goes beyond highlight throws. Las Vegas finished 3-14 and secured the first pick in the upcoming draft, a position that practically demands a long-term solution at quarterback.
Geno Smith is 35 and no longer viewed as a franchise cornerstone, while Aidan O’Connell and Kenny Pickett have seen limited action. With minority owner Tom Brady helping shape the organization’s football direction, the pressure to land a transformational talent is significant.
Crosby avoided saying whether he expects to share a locker room with Mendoza, and that silence may reflect uncertainty around his own future.
The All-Pro edge rusher signed a three-year, $106.5 million extension in March 2025, but frustration has surfaced at times, including disagreement with a late-season benching. Around the league, Detroit has emerged as a speculative trade destination should the Raiders choose to accelerate a rebuild with draft capital.
A potential move would reshape both franchises, giving the Raiders flexibility while providing the Lions with an elite pass rusher to complement Aidan Hutchinson. Crosby has not requested a trade, yet the rumors underline how fluid Las Vegas’ roadmap remains.
What felt like a lighthearted podcast exchange has now taken on added meaning. In a franchise searching for its next identity, even casual praise from the locker room’s heartbeat can signal where belief is forming, and right now, that belief seems to point toward Fernando Mendoza.
