Star Defensive End Maxx Crosby Could Be Dealt By Las Vegas Raiders Sooner Rather Than Later

When you’ve racked up 69.5 sacks in seven seasons, earned five straight Pro Bowl nods, and you’re only 29 years old, teams aren’t just going to let you slip away quietly. That’s the Maxx Crosby situation in a nutshell—and right now, it might be the hottest storyline in the NFL.

According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, a Crosby trade could go down as soon as this week. Seven teams—Dallas, Chicago, Baltimore, Buffalo, New England, Philadelphia, and the Rams—are all keeping tabs on the Las Vegas Raiders’ star edge rusher. Where will Crosby end up?

Why the Raiders Might Actually Pull the Trigger

Las Vegas finished the season 3-14. That’s bad, but it did earn them the first overall pick, and the franchise is expected to take Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza to kickstart a full rebuild. The hard question now is whether Crosby fits into a roster that might not be competitive for another few years.

The relationship between Crosby and the organization has reportedly grown tense. He was held out of two games last season against his wishes, and that kind of thing has a way of leaving a mark. Add in two consecutive seasons that ended in surgery, and GM John Spytek faces a genuine dilemma. Keep your franchise cornerstone and risk watching him be wasted on a rebuilding team, or trade him for assets that could help build around your shiny new quarterback.

What Crosby Would Actually Cost

Here’s where things get interesting. Breer doesn’t think the Raiders can command the same haul the Cowboys got when they moved Micah Parsons to the Packers. No two-first-round-pick bonanza this time around. With Crosby coming off back-to-back injury-shortened seasons, rival executives are going to use that as leverage.

Breer’s thinking? One first-round pick and a player might be the realistic starting point. That’s still a significant price, but for a guy who posted 10 sacks, 73 tackles, and 28 tackles for a loss last season, it’s arguably a bargain.

The Elephant In the Room

Crosby still considers himself a Raider. He has a real bond with Owner Mark Davis, and according to Breer, neither Crosby nor the Raiders is eager to make this a public spectacle. There’s no grand shopping tour happening here. This needs to be handled with care.

But sentimentality only goes so far. If the right offer lands on Spytek’s desk this week, the Raiders would be foolish not to at least pick up the phone.

What Happens Next

The legal tampering period opens in just over a week. Whatever is going to happen, it’s going to happen fast. Breer is leaning toward a trade going down. For Crosby, the dream scenario is landing with a contender, cashing in on that rare combination of age, production, and elite athleticism. For the Raiders, it is about getting fair value and giving Mendoza something to work with down the road.