Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders
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(Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images)
The Las Vegas Raiders have their veteran QB in Kirk Cousins as the teammade the official announcement on April 6. As part of the announcement, the Silver and Black also released a sit-down interview with Cousins, in which he discussed several topics regarding his new team.
Despite being on opposite sides of the football, Cousinswas asked about Maxx Crosby, who appears to be staying with the Raiders after a trade to the Baltimore Ravens this offseason fell through. The trade to Baltimore fell through after a failed physical, sending the veteran pass rusher back to Las Vegas.
Nonetheless, Cousins is more than happy to be on the same team as Crosby, whom he’s gone up against in the past.
“There’s only a handful of guys in the league, maybe a half‑dozen, that truly you’re thinking about as you prepare for them the entire week, every play, saying, ‘What are we doing about this guy?'”Cousins said in a April 6 video on the Raiders’ YouTube channel.
“And there’s only about a half‑dozen of them. Maxx is one of those guys where, you know, you are all week long wondering how he could wreck the game on this play, on this play, on this play.”
Kirk Cousins Spotlights Key Maxx Crosby Traits
Moreover, Cousins noted the characteristics that make Crosby a special pass rusher and one of the best at his position in the league.
“Just his energy, his motor, his example, I think it’s really impactful to the whole organization and the locker room,” Cousins added. “You know, if we could have a bunch of Maxx Crosbys, we’d have as good a team as there is in the league. So I got to meet him, talk with him a little bit, have played against him, and can’t wait to now be on the same team.”
Last season with the Raiders,Crosby posted a 79.7 overall PFF defensive grade. His 77.1 pass-rush grade ranked 20th among 115 qualified edge defenders, while his 78.7 mark against the run placed 11th at the position.
Moreover, he totaled 53 pressures, including 10 sacks, 31 hurries, and 12 quarterback hits. Crosby also made 46 solo tackles and forced one fumble over the course of the season.
Rich Gannon Talks Kirk Cousins Signing With Raiders
With Las Vegas now having a veteran who can potentially play in front of Fernando Mendoza and mentor him, former Raiders QB Rich Gannon shared his thoughts on the Cousins signing.
“I think it makes a lot of sense, and I think you can look into ita number of different ways,”Gannon said in an April 2 video from the New York Post. “He’s going to be the starter in Week 1. I don’t think we need to get that far. I just think bringing in a quality player and person like Kirk Cousins is important.
“He’s got, you know, 14 years of experience; he’s got 167 starts under his belt. He’s thrown for almost 45,000 yards and almost 300 touchdowns [and] he’s played well for a number of different organizations.”
Moreover, Gannon explained why Cousins is the perfect veteran to serve as a mentor to Mendoza, as the rookie QB would learn what it takes to succeed in the NFL.
“I think he’s going to be a great asset to a young Fernando Mendoza,” Gannon added. “He’s got history with Klint Kubiak and the system. So I think it makes a lot of sense to bring him in. Whether or not he starts Week 1, to me, is irrelevant at this point. I think both will play, but I just think Kirk Cousins is the right person, the right person, a guy with great character and integrity and great leadership skills.”