Maxx Crosby
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ESPN's Jeremy Fowler provided an update on the Las Vegas Raiders potentially trading edge rusher Maxx Crosby this offseason.
The Detroit Lions are hoping to bounce back from a disappointing 2025 season, and could have the potential for a major midseason jolt to their Super Bowl hopes if they’re successful.
The Lions were pegged as one of the top potential landing spots for Las Vegas Raiders star Maxx Crosby — that is, before his failed trade to the Baltimore Ravens put an end to the trade rumors. While Crosby rejoined the fold in Las Vegas and is planning to start the season with the Raiders, an insider shared that he could still find his way back onto the trade block in a matter of months.
Raiders Taking a Break From Maxx Crosby Trade Talk
In an update shared on Friday, SI.com insider Albert Breer reported that the Raiders will need to wait a while before they revisit the idea of trading Crosby. Though the team is in the midst of a rebuild and strained their relationship after shutting Crosby down for the final stretch of the season with a knee injury, Breer reported that they will need some together.
“If he’s going to be traded, I think it’s going to have to come after Maxx Crosby gets back on the field and plays really well, so people will forget about everything that just happened,”Breer said on “The MMQB NFL Podcast.”
Breer added that the Raiders are trying to mend fences with Crosby, while also trying to rebuild the trust of the fan base. That makes it logical for the team to shelve any trade plans for the time being.
“That way, it becomes a little easier when it comes to managing your owners and your fan base. It also makes it easier to go out and trade for him again. That’s not a bad place for the Raiders to be, either. When you look at where they are, it’s like, ‘OK, Maxx is going to help build a culture, and they’ll move forward as if he’s part of the team.’ “
But Breer added that the Raiders could revive the trade talks later on in the season, potentially closer to the 2026 trade deadline.
“But if they’re really bad in October or early November and he’s playing great, then they can have that conversation. That’s probably the smartest way to move forward if you’re the Raiders,” Breer reported.
What Maxx Crosby Rumors Mean for the Lions
The reset could be good news for the Lions, who have been on the hunt for a competent counterpart to star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson. The Lions have been forced to make some midseason additions in the past, landing Za’Darius Smith in 2024 after Hutchinson went down with a season-ending injury.
Crosby could be an even bigger target for the Lions, potentially boosting their Super Bowl hopes if they can remain in contention until that point of the season. It could still be a costly trade for the Lions, especially if Crosby has proven that he’s moved beyond the knee issues that reportedly cooled Baltimore’s interest in completing the trade.