How Maxx Crosby reacted to Fernando Mendoza joining the Raider

defensive end Maxx Crosby did not wait long. Minutes after the franchise selected Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday, Crosby Alex Kirilloff Jersey went straight to X with a me sage directly to his new teammate. "LFG!!!! Welcome To The Darkside Brother," Crosby wrote, tagging Mendoza's account and adding three pirate flag emojis. Mendoza arrived as the Heisman Trophy winner, the national champion and the most decorated college quarterback prospect since Joe Burrow. 2026 NFL DRAFT HQ: | | Crosby has carried this Raiders defense through the years; maybe Mendoza's arrival will change the picture The went 3-14 last season. They cycled through seven different starting quarterbacks over the past three years, compiling a 15-36 record in that span. Crosby was there for all of it, playing at an elite level while the franchise struggled to find direction. Watching a quarterback of Mendoza's caliber come through the door is a different experience from anything Crosby has had in Las Vegas. LFG!!!! Welcome To The Darkside Brother Maxx Crosby (@CrosbyMaxx) Mendoza completed 72% of his pa ses for 3,535 yards, threw 41 touchdowns against just six interceptions and went 16-0 while leading the Hoosiers to their first national championship in program history. The Raiders signed quarterback Kirk Cousins this offseason to give Mendoza a veteran to learn from. Head coach Klint Kubiak has said the team's ideal scenario would ease the rookie into the starting role. Tom Brady, a minority owner and Raiders-designated mentor, has already met with Mendoza in the pre-draft proce s, making the infrastructure around the rookie QB incredibly stable. More NFL news: Ronny Henriquez Jersey