Raiders' Maxx Crosby expands on powerful advice for rookie QB Fernando Mendoza

Shortly after the Las Vegas Raiders made quarterback Fernando Mendoza the first overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, Raiders star pass-rusher Maxx Crosby revealed that he advised Mendoza to "just be yourself" and not let the transition to the league "be intimidating." 

Crosby also said at the time that he was "excited to take [Mendoza] under my wing and help him out and show him the way." While speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Crosby expanded on advice he has given to Mendoza over the past six weeks or so.

Fernando Mendoza has thus far "been awesome" for Maxx Crosby, Raiders

"He checked every single box and some, but now you come to the NFL, and you’re on ground zero," Crosby said about Mendoza, per Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk. "I think that’s what the most important thing is when you’re a young guy coming in the league, is realizing that. It’s like, listen, you don’t just come in and say, okay, now you just start where you left off in college — that’s not the reality. You come here, and you have to earn your respect all over again and build up trust within your teammates, your coaches and the whole nine. So, Fernando has been awesome. He’s a great kid. He has great work ethic." 

Even before the Raiders officially drafted Mendoza, he routinely received praise for his work ethic and his willingness to accept that a team may not name him a Week 1 starter as a rookie. By all accounts, Raiders minority owner Tom Brady and first-year head coach Klint Kubiak remain keen on having veteran Kirk Cousins start Las Vegas' Week 1 home game versus the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 13. 

What happens beyond that is anybody's guess. 

"He’s an awesome kid," Crosby said about Mendoza. "Everyone knows his ability, what they’ve seen, especially this past season at Indiana. It couldn’t have been a greater year for an individual player at a college level, winning the Heisman, winning the Natty, not losing a game, having a game-winning touchdown in the national championship." 

Is Fernando Mendoza one reason Maxx Crosby wants to stay with the Raiders? 

Crosby requested a trade following the 2025 season, and he was set to become a Baltimore Ravens player before the Ravens famously backed out of the deal in March. He has since made it known he is "excited" to still be with the Raiders and to share a locker room with Mendoza.

"I’m really excited for what he’s going to bring to this team," Crosby added about Mendoza on Wednesday, "and you can already feel just his energy on a daily basis has been extremely consistent."

Perhaps that energy will cause Crosby to want to stay with the Raiders beyond the start of the upcoming campaign.