The Raiders are in a very tough spot right now. On one hand, they need to rebuild badly and trading their star pass rusher Maxx Crosby would greatly help those efforts. On the other hand, Crosby is an elite talent and it might be years before they get someone of his caliber again.
So what's the plan down in Las Vegas?
According to NFL insider Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the plan is to simply hold firm. Russini reported this morning that while Crosby is not going to make a big stink in public, he still wants out behind closed doors.
But the Raiders won't let him go for nothing. The Raiders are asking for two first-round picks and a player. Russini reported that while there is some interest, there doesn't appear to be enough interest in the team's asking price. And they're not budging either.
"So where do things stand right now with Maxx Crosby? Based on several conversations with league sources, the Raiders have not moved off from their asking price of two first-round picks and a player. Several teams are interested, but decision makers are getting mixed signals from the Raiders in regards to their genuine interest in dealing their star," Russini wrote this morning.
A Diamond in the Rough
Crosby has been a star since his rookie season, finishing second in the 2019 Rookie of the Year voting and never dipping below 7.0 sacks in a season. Since 2021 he's been among the best pass rushers in the league not named Myles Garrett.
Over the past five seasons, Crosby has 52.5 sacks, 103 tackles for loss, 137 QB hits, seven forced fumbles, 24 passes defended, two fumble recoveries and an interception. He's made the Pro Bowl in each of those seasons, earned All-Pro honors twice and led the league in tackles for loss twice.
© Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images
That's a lot of elite production for a guy who's only going to be 29 during the 2026 NFL season. He could still have upwards of five years of elite pass rushing left in him.
But NFL teams know pretty well that the Raiders are desperate to rebuild. Unless a team comes to the realization that Crosby could be the final piece to a Super Bowl puzzle, they might not find any buyers.
Then again, many of us probably thought the same about Micah Parsons before the Packers snatched him up.