Maxx Crosby arrived as the 106th overall pick as a fourth-round selection in the 2019 NFL Draft with the Las Vegas Raiders. Never expected to assume a starting role, Crosby quickly showed he was built from a different breed, starting 10 games as a rookie.
‘Mad Maxx’ quickly developed into one of the best players on the Raiders, becoming a four-time Pro Bowler. He’s now one of the NFL’s best pass-rushers, finishing as a Defensive Player of the Year finalist in two of his six seasons with the team.
Yet, as good as Crosby is, the 27-year-old has only ever played in one postseason game with the Raiders, which came in 2021. Crosby has just two years left on his contract, with an average cap hit of $26.4 million over the next two seasons. However, considering his production, Spotrac still suggests Crosby is underpaid compared to his peers and is in line to average $32 million per season instead of his $22.2 million salary in 2025.
If the Raiders can’t build a winner and do so quickly, it may only be a matter of time before Crosby asks out, even if he continues to say all the right things about his loyalty to Vegas. Now, there’s an NFL league source who thinks the Crosby trade negotiations could heat up this offseason.
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Las Vegas Raiders predicted to discuss Maxx Crosby trade
The Maxx Crosby trade discussion has popped up ever since the Raiders failed to return to the playoffs in 2022. As one of the NFL’s best defenders, Crosby is a highly coveted player, but he’s also the best one the Raiders have and he’s been incredibly loyal.
There’s been no indication that he or the Raiders want to part ways, yet that’s never prevented the NFL rumors from percolating anyway.
The latest comes via ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, where he spoke to a league source about the upcoming pass-rusher market and how the best could be paid over $30 million per season.
“As one league source predicts, “Maxx, Myles (Garrett) and Trey (Hendrickson) will all be tied up in [trade] talks.” The expectation is Crosby and Hendrickson will get strong trade interest if their respective teams decide to entertain calls. But teams must figure out this edge rush market, either by proactively signing their own players to high-end money or finding a way to get younger and cheaper at the position.”
ESPN on Maxx Crosby
If three of the NFL’s top pass-rushers do hit the trade market, it could lead to a lesser return if the Raiders do want to consider a deal. That may force them to be more aggressive, looking to complete a trade before the market fully develops.
If the goal is to find a franchise quarterback, dangling Crosby in trade discussions could be just what the Raiders need to set themselves apart from the competition. Yet, it would also remove the face of the franchise from their roster, which gives the team a tough decision to make as they weigh the costs and benefits.
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