Raiders' Maxx Crosby Praises Potential Teammate Fernando Mendoza

[ad_1] The Las Vegas Raiders had been certainly paying shut consideration to the matchup on Friday night time between No. 1 Indiana and No. 5 Oregon within the School Soccer Playoff semifinal on the Peach Bowl.

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The competition featured two quarterbacks who could possibly be first-round draft picks in April. Geese quarterback Dante Moore had probably the most to achieve on Friday night time, however he threw for 285 yards, two touchdowns and one interception within the 56-22 loss to IU. He additionally misplaced two fumbles.

Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza had an unimaginable displaying, going 17-of-20 passing for 177 yards and 5 touchdowns. He added 28 yards on the bottom.

<img id="11273852" alt="Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders" caption="HOUSTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 21: Maxx Crosby #98 of the Las Vegas Raiders reacts on the sideline in the second half against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)" src="Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images" sourcealt="" sources="[]" fetchpriority="auto" loading="lazy" width="6000" height="4000" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" style="color:transparent;aspect-ratio:inherit;object-fit:cover" sizes="(min-width: 1200px) 1536px, (min-width: 768px) 768px, 100vw" srcset="https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/GettyImages-2253532834.jpg?w=640&quality=80&webp=1 640w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/GettyImages-2253532834.jpg?w=750&quality=80&webp=1 750w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/GettyImages-2253532834.jpg?w=1000&quality=80&webp=1 1000w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/GettyImages-2253532834.jpg?w=1200&quality=80&webp=1 1200w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/GettyImages-2253532834.jpg?w=1360&quality=80&webp=1 1360w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/GettyImages-2253532834.jpg?w=1600&quality=80&webp=1 1600w" bad-src="https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/GettyImages-2253532834.jpg?w=1600&quality=80&webp=1"/> Extra Information: Notre Dame HC Marcus Freeman Reemerges as NFL HC Candidate

Throughout an look on the "Let's Go!" podcast revealed on Monday, Raiders star pass-rusher Maxx Crosby dodged a query about Mendoza turning into his future teammate with the No. 1 choose.

Nonetheless, Crosby praised Mendoza for his play in large video games and the way he handles the media.

"I'll say his interviews, unbelievable," Crosby mentioned. "After I seen the primary one after they beat Ohio State within the Large Ten championship, I am not going to lie, I used to be not anticipating that in any respect. And that was one of many funniest issues I've ever seen. And it was it was so real and hilarious on the identical time.

"However you may simply inform like--he's a winner. He'll have he will have an unimaginable profession within the NFL. He is a hell of a participant, man. His story is exclusive. He wasn't the largest recruit or something like that. However he is he is constructed himself right into a Heisman winner and about to be a nationwide champion.”

Crosby has good cause to not speculate on Mendoza at this level within the Raiders' offseason. Las Vegas nonetheless has a head coach to rent earlier than the staff embarks on a prolonged pre-draft course of to find out what to do with the coveted No. 1 choose.

There has additionally been speak of the Raiders probably buying and selling Crosby this offseason after the pass-rusher was positioned on injured reserve for the ultimate two video games of the common season.

But when the Raiders have a expertise at quarterback and Crosby taking part in in his prime subsequent season, the staff might make a outstanding turnaround from a 3-14 end in 2025.