Maxx Crosby
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NFL insider Albert Breer argued that if the Raiders deal Maxx Crosby, it will probably come close to the NFL trade deadline.
Speculation that the New England Patriots could acquire Maxx Crosby restarted when the edge rusher returned to the Las Vegas Raiders. There doesn’t really appear to be an end to the rumors in sight.
Now according to Albert Breer, the team and fan base might have to endure those rumors for the next several months.
Breer argued Friday while making an appearance on “The MMQB NFL Podcast” that the Raiders shouldn’t trade Crosby until the midseason point.
“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 told Sports Illustrated’s Conor Orr.
“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 quite a change from initial reports or opinions on a new potential Crosby trade. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported on March 15 the edge rusher would likely stay put for the time being, but Fowler left open the possibility of a Crosby trade closer to the draft in April.
Breer sees one much more likely to occur six months after that.
“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.”
Patriots Get Potentially Bad News on Possible Maxx Crosby Trade
Breer’s update was not at all an ideal one for the Patriots (or any team hoping to acquire Crosby).
If the Raiders don’t want to trade Crosby again until October, that means, even if the Patriots can land the edge rusher at the trade deadline, they will have to play about half the 2026 season without him.
The Patriots added edge rusher Dre’Mont Jones in NFL free agency. But the team also lost edge rusher K’Laveon Chaisson, who was second for New England in sacks last season.
In all likelihood, Jones’s arrival will work as a mere replacement for Chaisson.
The Patriots would prefer to upgrade their pass rush next season. New England was tied for 22nd in the NFL with 35 sacks during 2025.
Crosby would be one of the top upgrades the Patriots could land for their edge rushing room. Crosby has averaged roughly 10 sacks per season over his entire career. Last season, he had 10 sacks with 28 tackles for loss and 20 quarterback hits.
A two-time second-team All-Pro edge rusher, Crosby would also upgrade New England’s run defense. He’s made five consecutive Pro Bowls since 2021.
Patriots Edge Rushing Depth in 2026 Offseason
New England had a lot of contributors to its pass rush during the 2025 run to the Super Bowl. Seven Patriots defenders registered multiple sacks.
But only Harold Landry and Chaisson had more than five.
If Crosby isn’t available until the trade deadline, then the Patriots probably would be wise to add another edge rusher for the start of the season. NFL.com’s Matt Okada named four potential veteran targets, including former Patriots edge rusher Kyle Van Noy.
The Patriots can’t really afford to wait until the trade deadline on Crosby. The AFC East isn’t expected to be super competitive with the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins rebuilding, but the Buffalo Bills are a significant threat. The Patriots might not be able to afford a slow start.
Plus, there’s a risk in counting on Crosby at the trade deadline. If the Raiders have a hot beginning of the season, then the edge rusher isn’t going to be available in a trade.
All in all, Breer’s update on a potential Crosby trade was not a good one for New England.