Joe Brady
Getty
New Buffalo Bills head coach Joe Brady will call his own plays in 2026.
The Buffalo Bills fell out of the running to land star edge rusher Maxx Crosby, and now could turn their attention to a younger prospect at the position.
The Baltimore Ravens pulled out of the planned trade with the Las Vegas Raiders for Crosby, which left him with a murky trade future. Though the Bills had once been considered a strong suitor for Crosby — and reportedly made a significant offer that fell just short of Baltimore’s — he now appears to be off the trade block for at least a few months.
One insider believes the Bills will not wait for another chance to upgrade their pass-rushing group, using their top draft pick on a promising but raw prospect.
Bills Try Again After Losing Maxx Crosby
In a mock draft published this week, The Ringer’s Todd McShay predicted the Bills would land Missouri pass rusher Zion Young.
McShay noted that Young has all the tools to grow into a star edge rusher, but still needs time to put them all together.
”Young may lack ideal bend and flexibility, and his sack production hasn’t yet matched what NFL teams typically look for, but his traits, flashes of ability, and developmental upside stand out,” McShay wrote. “He’s a big, long, and powerful edge defender who plays with strength and physicality. Young also brings a high-energy presence and clear love for the game. He chose to play in Missouri’s bowl game while many top prospects opted out, then followed it up with a strong week at the Senior Bowl.”
The Bills are undergoing some changes under new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard, parting ways with several longtime players including pass rusher A.J. Epenesa. That could leave an opening for Young to play a significant role if he’s drafted.
Maxx Crosby Off the Table — For Now
SI.com’s Albert Breer reported that the Raiders welcomed Crosby back to the facility after the failed trade and have no immediate plans to trade him. Breer suggested that his trade value dropped after Baltimore balked at the results of his physical, but the Raiders could revisit the idea of trading him later in the 2026 season.
“If there’s a window to trade Crosby, it’s probably closer to the trade deadline,” Breer wrote. “As we’ve established, it wouldn’t make sense for Vegas to sell low here. But if Crosby plays well, and the Raiders are struggling through a rebuild in late October, then all of this can be revisited. It’s not like there wouldn’t be a market then, if things play out that way.”
The Bills have already made one major move to boost their pass rush, signing veteran Bradley Chubb. The team appears to be moving on from fellow veteran Joey Bosa after one uneven season, allowing him to hit free agency with no indication that they plan to re-sign him.
Bosa had mixed results, generating some pressure on opposing quarterbacks and leading the league in forced fumbles, but also struggled against the run and made some critical mistakes. That includes a costly roughing the passer penalty late in overtime against the Denver Broncos in the playoffs, helping them move into field-goal range.