Will-they-won’t-they is a classic plot line across film and television, and the Las Vegas Raiders and defensive star Maxx Crosby are putting an NFL spin on it this week.
On Monday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Raiders will need “an offer they can’t say no to” to trade Crosby, while NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero suggested the Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, and Dallas Cowboys as logical suitors.
Since then, the Bears have emerged as the betting odds-on favorite to land Crosby, and Philadelphia Eagles All-Pro tackle Lane Johnson fueled speculation that the Eagles could be in the mix. The Athletic‘s Dianni Russini reported that the Raiders “have not moved off from their asking price of two first-round picks and a player,” while The Athletic‘s Michael Silver published a deep dive into the fissures between Crosby and the Raiders.
On Thursday, NFL insider Jordan Schultz added to the frenzy.
“Sources: Teams in the trade market have gotten the sense that the Raiders are more open to the idea of trading Maxx Crosby, and it's a situation that is only going to intensify,” Schultz reported on X (formerly known as Twitter).
It’s fitting that the word “intensify” is used when a player nicknamed Mad Maxx is involved.
Crosby has been a football menace since the then-Oakland Raiders drafted him in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. The 28-year-old pass rusher has 69.5 career sacks, 164 career quarterback hits, and 133 tackles for loss. Crosby led the NFL in tackles for loss in 2022 and 2023, and he has five Pro Bowl nods and named to the Second Team All-Pro twice.
Last season, Crosby recorded 10 sacks, 73 tackles, 28 tackles for loss, and 20 quarterback hits for the 3-14 Raiders. Las Vegas shut Crosby down with two games left, which reportedly “vehemently disagreed” with (via FOX’s Jay Glazer), and Crosby had surgery to repair his meniscus in January.
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