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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 14: Maxx Crosby #98 of the Las Vegas Raiders looks on during warmups before the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on December 14, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
The 2026 NFL Draft is just over two weeks away, which leaves plenty of time for major trades to occur. And with that, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell provided a new first-round mock draft with trade situations for every team.
And his idea for the Philadelphia Eagles would give them a top defender.
The Eagles hold the 23rd overall pick, and Barnwell has them receiving Las Vegas Raiders star edge Maxx Crosby. But what Philadelphia would have to give up in return is A LOT. In this situation, the Raiders would receive the 23rd overall pick, a 2027 third-round pick, and edge Nolan Smith Jr.
“While Crosby is saying that he wants to move forward with the only pro organization he has ever known after his trade to the Ravens fell through, the same logic that led the Raiders to initially deal Crosby to Baltimore still holds,” Barnwell wrote. “Vegas doesn’t appear to be close to seriously contending. Crosby turns 29 in August. He wants to win, ideally sooner rather than later. That might happen in Vegas, but by the time it does, Crosby could be well past his peak.”
He also floated the idea of trading Brown to the Raiders in exchange for Crosby, pairing the talented wide receiver with a rookie quarterback. But instead, Barnwell believes there’s a better option.
“The better return for Crosby would be young talent as opposed to players who might be exiting their prime, even if it’s a star at a position of need, such as Brown,” he added.
Why The Maxx Crosby Deal With The Ravens Initially Fell Through
Maxx Crosby #98 of the Las Vegas Raiders continues to be linked to a Dallas Cowboys trade.
GettyMaxx Crosby
The Raiders and the Ravens agreed on a massive trade, with Baltimore giving up two first-round picks in exchange for Crosby. However, the Ravens backed out, saying that the decision was due to a failed physical.
In January, the star edge defender had surgery to repair a torn meniscus, but Crosby’s agent denied that he was behind on his recovery with a tweet shortly after Baltimore pulled out of the deal.
“Maxx continues to be on track in his recovery and if anything is ahead of schedule, according to his surgeon Dr. Neal El Attrache. Maxx remains on track to return during the offseason program & will undoubtedly return as the dominant game wrecker he has been these past 7 seasons,” CJ LaBoy posted on X.
And shortly after the Crosby deal fell through, the Ravens signed former Cincinnati Bengals star Trey Hendrickson to a four-year, $112 million contract, with $60 million guaranteed.
Eagles Insider Says Team Aimed To Keep Jaelan Phillips
Jaelan Phillips
GettyPanthers pass rusher Jaelan Phillips
The Philadelphia Eagles wanted to keep pass rusher Jaelan Phillips this offseason, but instead, he signed with the Carolina Panthers to a four-year, $120 million deal, which includes $80 million in total guarantees.
So that does leave an opening at the edge position, and they can fill that with Crosby based on Barnwell’s trade proposal.
“You have to be able to pivot,” Roseman said regarding free agency. “You have to be able to say, ‘Hey, this is where the market’s going… And we’ve done all this work. We have all the evaluations. Where is there value? …We try not to be stubborn about that.”
The Eagles are expected to also look towards the draft to add at the edge position.