Through all the preparations ahead of the 2026 NFL season, Las Vegas Raiders stars Maxx Crosby and Fernando Mendoza are having a great time. The franchise is slowly building a solid roster of talent, and the players seem to be bonding well as they prepare for the new campaign.
Raiders DE Maxx Crosby Commends QB Fernando Mendoza’s Competitiveness
After drafting Indiana Heisman-winner Fernando Mendoza first overall this year, the Raiders hope that he’ll soon be able to lead the franchise. Luckily, he looks to be on the right track, as his teammates are already fond of him.
The team’s superstar pass rusher, Crosby, commented on his interactions with the rookie quarterback, mentioning a fun time they had at his house while playing basketball.
“Fernando’s been awesome,” he said in a press conference. “He’s a great kid. He has a great work ethic. You know, I had a lot of young guys over at the house. We watched Game 7. And Fernando, unfortunately, was behind me in a game of Horse, and I destroyed him. You know, I got him out of there quick. So he’s gotta work on the jump shot, but ultimately, he’s a competitor, man.”
Establishing rapport among teammates will be key to maintaining synergy throughout the season.
The Raiders are trying to come back from their worst season in 11 years. The last time they booked only three wins, Derek Carr was still the quarterback, and was throwing passes to James Jones.
In an attempt to improve on their 3-14 record from 2025, they launched a top-end overhaul, drafting Mendoza and hiring a new head coach and coordinators. Super Bowl winner Klint Kubiak will lead the team, with Andrew Janocko coordinating the offense and Rob Leonard running the defense.
Having running back Ashton Jeanty in his second year will go a long way in establishing a foundation in the backfield. The young back will have to do most of the heavy lifting on his own this season, being by far the most reliable back ahead of names such as Mike Washington Jr. and Dylan Laube.
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With a very thin running back room, Kubiak will likely lean heavily on the passing game, boasting superstar tight end Brock Bowers, who scored an 82.6 PFSN TE Impact score in 2025. The tight end might have a similar workload to Jeanty, as the wide receiver room also lacks plenty of talent. Las Vegas has no real star power in a wide receiver room that features Jalen Nailor and Tre Tucker, among others.
Luckily for Mendoza, he won’t be thrown into the deep end to try to make something of a thin offense. Veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins is expected to start the campaign, while the rookie learns the ropes behind him.
