Deonte Banks, New York Giants
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(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
The Las Vegas Raiders have made changes to the defense that would allow the team to field at least a competitive group this upcoming 2026 NFL season under new defensive coordinator Rob Leonard.
Over the offseason, the Silver and Black traded for Taron Johnson to bolster their secondary, and with the 2026 NFL Draft nearing, could the Raiders make another trade to further improve that area of the defense?
In an April 8 article, FOX Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano floated a name that Las Vegas should consider trading for, which is the New York Giants‘ Deonte Banks. Vacchiano’s trade idea would see the Raiders send a 2026 sixth-round pick (185th) for Banks.
“Their instincts were right when they tried to trade Maxx Crosby to Baltimore for two first-round picks,” Vacchiano wrote. “They are likely multiple years away from being competitive again, so their focus should be on acquiring assets. But they are also thin atcorner and are the type of team that can and should take a flier on a player like Banks — talented enough to be a first-round pick (2023), but a bust so far in the NFL.
“For basically nothing, they can spend a year seeing if new defensive coordinator Rob Leonard can turn him into a serviceable player. If not, the cost would be negligible. If Leonard can, though, the Raiders can re-sign Banks and will have gotten him for a steal.”
Kirk Cousins Doesn’t Hold Back on Raiders’ Maxx Crosby
Despite attempting to trade him, the Raiders will likely have Maxx Crosby on their defense to start the 2026 NFL season after a trade to the Baltimore Ravens fell through due to a failed physical. Despite being on opposite sides of the football, new Las Vegas QB Kirk Cousins was asked about Crosby.
“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.”
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.
Furthermore, 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.
Kirk Cousins Issues More Praise for Maxx Crosby
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.”