Maxx Crosby
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Raiders' minority owner Tom Brady reportedly had no interest in trading Maxx Crosby to the Patriots
Ahead of the start of free agency, the New England Patriots are big-game hunting on the trade market. While they missed out on Las Vegas Raiders‘ defensive end Maxx Crosby, who got sent to the Baltimore Ravens last week, the Pats appear to be in hot pursuit of Philadelphia Eagles‘ wide receiver A.J. Brown.
It always seemed more likely that New England would acquire Brown, given his ties to Patriots’ head coach Mike Vrabel, but the front office still made a serious push for Crosby. However, according to a new report, it sounds like N.E. may have never had a serious shot at landing Crosby, thanks to their old friend Tom Brady.
Tom Brady Refused to Trade Maxx Crosby to the Patriots
Jeremy Fowler
Last-minute free agency notes
-Colts down to wire with Pierce, whose market 📈 -RBs on the move -Eagles busy at new league year -A.J. brown, other trade musings -Commanders set to be active
After retiring from the NFL as a player, Brady became a minority owner of the Raiders, while also working as a color commentator for Fox’s NFL broadcasts. While Brady is working in an ownership role on paper, all signs point to him being heavily involved in the front office’s decision-making process.
That includes the team’s trade discussions involving Crosby, which eventually saw them receive a pair of first-round picks from the Ravens. The Patriots, who also need some pass-rushing help this offseason, were heavily linked to Crosby, with rumors indicating that he wanted to play for Vrabel in New England. When all was said and done, though, it wasn’t too surprising to see the Pats get outbid for Crosby.
Some folks also speculated that the team’s relationship with Brady could have given them the inside track on acquiring Crosby. Instead, it turns out the opposite was true. According to NFL insider Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, it sounds like Brady had no interest in sending Crosby out to Foxboro, MA, to play for Vrabel.
“One person involved in the trade made an interesting point about the Patriots’ chances at Crosby: ‘No way Tom [Brady] was sending Maxx to [Mike] Vrabel,'” Fowler reported.
Patriots Turn Attention to Free Agency After Striking Out on Maxx Crosby
Maxx Crosby, Baltimore Ravens
GettyMaxx Crosby #98 of the Las Vegas Raiders looks on before the game against the Tennessee Titans at Allegiant Stadium on October 12, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
It’s a bit discouraging to see Brady, who spent 20 seasons as the Patriots’ starting quarterback, could have played a role in the team’s inability to acquire Crosby. On the surface, he seems to have a great relationship with his old team (the same of which certainly can’t be said about longtime head coach Bill Belichick), so that only makes this revelation more confusing.
At the end of the day, Brady is the ultimate competitor, which could have played a role in his desire not to help out Vrabel, even though the two guys are friendly. Regardless, New England has to pick itself up and move on, and after missing out on Crosby, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them target some of the top edge rushers available in free agency once the market opens up.