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(Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images)

The Las Vegas Raiders have a new franchise QB in Fernando Mendoza as the Silver and Black hope that he can help turn them into consistent contenders. After going through stopgap options, Mendoza can be the guy who takes the job for the next decade if things plan out.

Las Vegas hopes that Mendoza can take command of the team before the prime years of Maxx Crosby are over. Still, the Raiders pass rusher is excited for what the future holds now that the Silver and Black have someone to lead them for the foreseeable future.

“We got Fernando,” Crosby said on the April 28 edition of “The Rush.” “I think it was one of the worst-kept secrets in sports [and] I don’t think it was a surprise, but I know everybody’s fired up that he’s part of our team now; I had the chance to have a great conversation with him when he came on his visit. I got to chop it up with him a little bit, and then on draft night, got on FaceTime and talked to him.

“We’ve been texting back and forth ever since. I’m really fired up for him, excited to take him under my wing and help him out, show him the way and just encourage him to be himself and lead in his own way. So, fired up for him and his family. I know it was a big moment.”

Maxx Crosby Gives Big Advice to Fernando Mendoza

Nonetheless, heading into his rookie season, there’s still a lot for Mendoza to learn, and Crosby noted what the young QB needs to do to earn the respect of the veterans in the locker room.

“I think what helped me personally, just speaking from my experience, is you don’t need a lot of words initially,“ Crosby added. “You’re a young guy. You’ve got to earn that respect from the locker room, and that’s by the work you put in and by your actions.

“So just being early in the building, being late to leave, being consistent, being the same guy every single day, and just being yourself, you know what I mean. Don’t be a shell of yourself. Let your personality show. I think the faster you can get to the point where you can have those real relationships.”

Kirk Morrison Gets Blunt About Raiders QB Situation

Now, the question surrounding the Raiders will be who starts Week 1? Will new head coach Klint Kubiak allow Mendoza to watch and learn behind veteran Kirk Cousins, or, if the rookie QB is clearly better than the veteran, will they allow him to start right out the gate?

On April 23, former Raiders star Kirk Morrison shared his thoughts on the QB situation with Mendoza officially in the fold now.

“This is a different situation coming in with Klint Kubiak,“ Morrison said during an appearance on the Raiders’ YouTube channel. “This is going to be a process, and when Fernando is ready, Fernando will go out there and play. But Kirk Cousins is going to be a guy who may start as the No. 1. They always love that they can go out there and compete. That’s what training camp is for.

“We are going to be able to grade who is ready and who’s not. All of us will be at training camp. We’ll watch Fernando go through it. They can’t hide us from practice in training camp. We’re going to see if Fernando is ready. We’re going to watch the preseason.”