The New England Patriots have already made a couple of big moves to begin the offseason, but it seems like if things go according to plan, they could make another big splash before the start of free agency. The Pats are reportedly in trade talks for a couple of big-name players, with one guy being Las Vegas Raiders' superstar defensive end Maxx Crosby.
While New England has been more heavily linked to Philadelphia Eagles' wide receiver A.J. Brown as of late, Crosby would be another strong fit on a defense that desperately needs a top-tier pass rusher. And in what could be viewed as a positive update for the Patriots, it sounds like the Raiders may be set to move on from Crosby before the unofficial start of free agency on Monday afternoon.
"The Raiders have multiple strong offers right now," NFL insider Tom Pelissero of NFL Network said on "The Rich Eisen Show." "The risk that they run, if they let this go beyond Monday, is that some of those teams that have made strong offers may decide, 'You know what, they really might not trade guy. We're gonna deploy our resources ... on other players."
Las Vegas has set a high asking price for Crosby, which could cause teams to move elsewhere, as the free agency class features a deep pool of defensive ends. None of the guys set to hit the open market is the same caliber of player as Crosby, though, which is why so many teams are interested in acquiring him.
At this stage of the game, it seems like the Patriots are a fringe suitor for Crosby, but depending on how things unfold over the next couple of days, that could change quickly. With a resolution to this trade saga seemingly right around the corner, it will be worth keeping close tabs on Crosby to see if the Raiders do end up shipping him out of town.
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