The Raiders thought they ended the Maxx Crosby era when they agreed to trade the star defensive end to the Ravens on March 5. The blockbuster would have netted the Raiders a pair of first-round picks, but the Ravens backed out last Tuesday after Crosby failed a physical.
Although Crosby is recovering from a full meniscus repair, trade speculation centering on the 28-year-old has persisted. For Crosby’s part, the five-time Pro Bowler seems content to play an eighth season with the Raiders. “Im [sic] A Raider. I’m Back,” he posted on X last week.
It helps that Crosby is a fan of general manager John Spytek, rookie head coach Klint Kubiak and new defensive coordinator Rob Leonard, Albert Breer of SI.com relays. Crosby has a great relationship with Leonard, the Raiders’ defensive line coach over the previous three seasons. He combined for 68 tackles for loss and 32 sacks under Leonard from 2023-25.
While there is nothing stopping teams from pursuing a Crosby trade, the Raiders have made it clear they are not giving him away for a discount, per Breer. If there are any more “serious” trade talks regarding Crosby, they are unlikely to occur until around April’s draft, according to Jason La Canfora of SportsBoom. By then, Crosby could be in position to pass a physical. Regardless, odds are a Crosby trade will not come together before next season, according to Breer, who notes an acquiring GM would be taking a major risk in giving up significant value for Crosby. If his knee troubles continue over the next couple of years, it would be difficult for the GM to justify the gamble to a team owner.
“My gut, I think he’s a Raider,” one GM told La Canfora.
Signs are pointing to Crosby opening 2026 as a Raider, but Breer points to the possibility of a trade before the deadline if he is playing well and the team is out of contention. That may not be an outcome the Raiders are envisioning, though, after they went on a free agent spending spree. They are also expected to land their next starting quarterback, Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, with the No. 1 pick in the draft.
With a new coaching staff and much more talent on their roster, the Raiders will expect to make legitimate progress after a three-win 2025 showing. If the Raiders retain him, a healthy Crosby should boost their chances of turning things around next season.
Trade to a high profile contender just before trade deadline sounds like a good plan. Get a half season for the Raiders and then collect the draft picks.
The half season of play will establish Crosby as back (or broken, in which case there’s no trade).
If the Raiders are playoff bound (hey Jayden Daniels’s rookie appearance in the NFC championship for the ex-Redskins was a total surprise), then Crosby leads the way to the post-season.
I wish the redskins name comes back with new RFK stadium but bringing that name up with Jayden Daniels in the same sentence is a little bit weird
Just stop with the (sic) already, especially when you make so many typos and other errors on this site.
Ok so stop reading them then.
He should be a Cowboy. As a cowboys fan I am obviously biased
I know Maxx reads this forum, so I will just say it, as a Raiders fan.
They shouldn’t have sat you out. You said some things. They said some things. But just stay. Raiders fans want you to stay. You have stuck it out for so many years of bad seasons. The playoffs are coming. Be a part of it. 2027 at the latest!