He's back! Maxx Crosby merged superthread

[Corleone]

Tank is full speed ahead!

[raiders93]

It seems he is here for the 26 season,but what if someone offers a first and a player or a high to mid second?

Don’t know their cap situations…but any team in the south(no Atlanta)… I mean that division is poo that any of the four could make the playoffs.

Rams? Cowboys? Bengals?

There are still teams I could see wanting him…just a thought

I don’t see us budging off our price. I don’t know that we ever actually wanted to trade him. Our leverage always came from the idea that we’d just keep him if we didn’t get our price… even when nobody really bought that.

If Maxx was the driving force behind the trade, it’s not apparent that force still exists. I can’t see that motivating us to trade him for less. If we’d still like to trade him… Spytek is putting on a clinic on deal making.

[BoJacksonRules]

At least every team knows we are serious about his price tag if they want him

[ALLRAIDERWORLD21]

I'm over the whole damn thing. Maxx is a Raider. The team is better for it. We got good, solid players in FA..... and the guy we all wanted in Linderbaum. Time to sign one or two more... and then on to the draft. This is the most promising this pathetic franchise has looked in almost 35 years.

You have to admit, there were the few years during Grudens 1st tenure where they looked pretty promising. Al just didn't know how to sustain it in that era's NFL.

[Sold My Soul]

I'm over the whole damn thing. Maxx is a Raider. The team is better for it. We got good, solid players in FA..... and the guy we all wanted in Linderbaum. Time to sign one or two more... and then on to the draft. This is the most promising this pathetic franchise has looked in almost 35 years.

Brother, it wouldn't be the Raiders without high drama and dysfunction.

[Raiders Baby]

Spytek sunk the majority of last offseason's resources on offense, so it only makes sense that we would give the defense some TLC this year. We weren't going to throw the baby out with the bathwater just because the coaching sucked last year. We still need to see what we have in Grant, Bech, Rogers, and Thornton, and well Bowers/Jeanty are young studs on rookie deals. Too much talent for them all to suck, I'm excited to see them play for a legitimate playcaller.

I have a feeling Bech is gonna thrive in Kubiak’s offense and with a QB like Fernando. Might take a second to click, but once they’re on the same page I could see Bech being an Edelman type

[Dr Death]

You have to admit, there were the few years during Grudens 1st tenure where they looked pretty promising. Al just didn't know how to sustain it in that era's NFL.

I'm not a Gruden hater. I didn't want him back the second time (I thought he played too conservative). He did seem to have us going in the right direction but, he sucked big time with talent evaluation. He got f[raiders_icon]cked by the league (Goodell), IMO. If he was just relegated to being the coach, I think he would have had success with this team. Unfortunately, Mark gave him too much power... to the detriment of the team.

[Raider_Dave]

I have a feeling Bech is gonna thrive in Kubiak’s offense and with a QB like Fernando. Might take a second to click, but once they’re on the same page I could see Bech being an Edelman type

I think Bech was a really bad pick in the second round. Hopefully he proves me wrong.

[Raiders Baby]

I think Bech was a really bad pick in the second round. Hopefully he proves me wrong.

I see it like this: when we drafted DHB, everyone agreed it was a terrible pick and huge reach. But, once he became a raider, it was for the best that he succeeded. DHB never lived up to the pick, but he added value as a speedster/yac guy— not what you want in a first pick, but at least he’s giving you something

Bech is the same way for me. I wanted us to stay at our original pick and take Will Johnson, but now that Bech is a Raider I’m not gonna dwell on coulda shoulda woulda’s, I’m gonna think about what is the most way to get something productive out of him now that he’s on the team

I think Bech could be good as a slot guy, and I think Kubiak is the kind of guy who can scheme Bech open and take advantage of his strengths. He’s supposed to be a good blocker, which means he can be used in Klint’s 12 looks. In the right scheme, guys like that can look good. I know Bech wasn’t drafted for the Kubiak regime, but he could end up being a benefactor of this hire

(Or maybe he’ll get cut in camp )

[Sold My Soul]

the problem here is max could not pass a physical and the ravens knew that ...this is not new news to them, they had a ll the medical and could talk to the surgeon whom performed the surgery

The Ravens’ doctors—along with multiple independent ones—reviewed Crosby’s MRI. They were unified in the belief that Crosby’s short-term outlook was positive, but there were concerns about the long-term prognosis of Crosby’s knee, per league sources.

[Sold My Soul]

Is it true that Hendrickson is a better value?

Well, that depends on the status of Crosby’s knee. A healthy Crosby is an elite, game-changing defender—and not just as a pass rusher. He destroys edges in the run game and can wreck a team’s game plan with his work on early downs alone. Hendrickson is more of a designated pass rusher; he has just as big an impact as Crosby in obvious passing situations but can be a liability in run defense. Based on pass rush numbers alone, the two have been equals over the past three seasons. While Crosby has posted more pressures, Hendrickson has the advantage in sacks and pressure rate.

Those numbers ignore run defense, of course, and there’s a wide gap between the two in that category. But the Ravens weren’t in desperate need of run defense on the edge. Crosby’s penetrating style on early downs doesn’t necessarily fit in Jesse Minter’s scheme, which asks defensive linemen to read blocks before attacking. Baltimore needed a third-down closer on the edge, and while Crosby also provides that, Hendrickson has been more reliable in recent seasons and has a future that’s easier to project.

The caveat here is that we haven’t seen a healthy Crosby in two years. You’d like to hope that injuries have played a role in his declining production over the past two seasons. Otherwise, it’s looking like Crosby’s best days are behind him. Hendrickson is also coming off an injury, and he turned 31 last December. But a core muscle injury isn’t nearly as scary as a knee injury, and Hendrickson has a lot less mileage on him compared with the 28-year-old Crosby, who’s played 6,112 defensive snaps in his career, per TruMedia. Hendrickson has played 4,376. Crosby may be a couple of years younger, but in NFL years, he’s caught up to Hendrickson. Crosby’s best trait—that he never comes off the field—may be the reason the Ravens felt the need to back out of the deal. Signing Hendrickson as a free agent carries far less risk than trading for Crosby.

Will Crosby be traded to another team?

The Ravens deal didn’t just come out of the blue. Crosby asked for a trade in January, and the Raiders agreed that it was the best path forward for both sides. And after Las Vegas handed out over $280 million in contracts over the first few days of free agency, with $59 million of that going to defensive ends Kwity Paye and Malcolm Koonce, it appears that the Raiders have already moved on.

Per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, the team has told the free agent additions that those deals will be honored and that Las Vegas has the money to keep Crosby along with the new signings, which include former Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum. With Crosby on the roster in 2026, the Raiders still have more than $37 million in available cap space, per Over the Cap. But keeping him on the books could create problems down the line, so financially, it would still behoove the team to find a trade partner.

That could be easier said than done now that teams in the pass rusher market have already made their moves. The Panthers are giving Jaelan Phillips a $120 million contract, the Commanders will sign Odafe Oweh for $100 million, and the Cowboys are trading for Rashan Gary. Just about all of the teams that were willing to make a sizable investment in an edge defender may have already made their moves, leaving the Raiders with a much smaller pool of potential trade partners than they had a week ago. And since there’s a strong class of edge rushers in the 2026 draft, it will be difficult to find another suitor willing to give up multiple first-round picks for Crosby over the next two months.

Of course, every team needs pass rushers, and not all of them will land one in the draft. If playoff contenders like the Bills, Bears, and Eagles still have holes in their edge rusher depth charts as we get deeper into the offseason, the price to acquire Crosby could once again rise. Crosby’s presence on the Las Vegas roster was already awkward before the trade, and now his $31 million salary looks like a cap anchor. But it may be in the team’s best interests to wait until the summer to move their disgruntled star.

So who won this non-trade?

There are no winners here. The Raiders come out as the sympathetic figures, but after their last season, they don’t look any more competent under the leadership of Tom Brady and general manager John Spytek than they did when Mark Davis was flying by the seat of his impossibly white pants. On the other side, the Ravens are coming out of a deal with the Raiders and looking like the team that needs to get its shit together. Crosby is still stuck with the Raiders, with no clear exit plan. Hendrickson finally got paid, but his performance in Baltimore will now come with Crosby-level expectations, which Crosby himself would’ve had problems meeting.

-THE RINGER

[Jeevo]

The Ravens’ doctors—along with multiple independent ones—reviewed Crosby’s MRI. They were unified in the belief that Crosby’s short-term outlook was positive, but there were concerns about the long-term prognosis of Crosby’s knee, per league sources.

They also talked to the guy who did his surgery, and to Raider’s medical staff and then decided to make the trade. Their only concern was that Spy fleeced them.

[DanKD]

Yes i mean no shit theres long term concern with his knee. Hes going to be 29 with a lot of miles on there. He will also probably blow up some run plays even on one leg.

[Sold My Soul]

They also talked to the guy who did his surgery, and to Raider’s medical staff and then decided to make the trade. Their only concern was that Spy fleeced them.

No argument there from me good sir. I feel the same.

[Sold My Soul]

One thing for sure...this drama will be playing out for a few months.....So who's left?

Which Teams Might Still Be Interested?

Back in January, it was reported that due to Crosby’s knee surgery to repair his meniscus, it might make more sense for a trade timeline to align with the draft at the end of April since he would be most of the way through his rehab by then. With the new developments, that might be back on the table. The draft represents the next big potential deadline for the Raiders and interested teams. It’s the last chance for the Raiders to add picks to help their rebuild this year. From Crosby’s perspective, it’s the last milestone before he has to resign himself to playing in Las Vegas another season (or consider other, more drastic measures).

The Raiders could still trade Crosby in August or ahead of the midseason trade deadline. If they’re dead set on trying to recoup as much of the value that they lost from Baltimore’s offer as possible, they could hold onto him for a while in the hope that a Super Bowl contender gets desperate. However, for the sake of simplicity, let’s assume they decide to honor Crosby’s trade request and move him by the draft as long as they get a first-round pick and some kind of sweetener, something like a late Day 2 pick, a couple mid-round selections or even a player.

Back in February, there were 10 teams we examined as potential trade destinations for Crosby. The Bills and Cowboys are probably out, as well as the 49ers given their other moves this week. It’s fun to think about the Lions but they have too many other pending extensions to consider spending $30 million on Crosby when they’re already paying $45 million a year to Aidan Hutchinson. A trade for Crosby was never the type of move that was in the Bengals’ wheelhouse and certainly not now after their other free agent moves.

Some other teams not mentioned in that article that also probably don’t make sense: the Commanders have signed three edge rushers along with a host of other free agents, and need to use draft picks to get younger. The Colts don’t have first-round picks after burning their powder on a trade for CB Sauce Gardner last season. And it’s doubtful the Raiders would trade Crosby inside the AFC West to the Chiefs, Chargers or Broncos.

That still leaves a handful of potential suitors, though, especially if the Raiders are willing to accept a lower price.

Chicago Bears

Upgrading along the defensive line is still a big need for the Bears. So far the team has had to focus more on replacing defections at safety, linebacker and center rather than meaningfully upgrading the pass rush. There’s not much cap space left to do more, and not many players left in free agency who present the potential to be substantial upgrades. Chicago’s options for improvement include the draft or just hoping for better results in 2026, whether it’s from development or better health.

One of the original suitors for Crosby, there was a lot of buzz about a potential trade before things shifted. By the end, it didn’t seem like the Bears had the stomach for what the trade cost was going to be. Now that things have changed, it’s possible the team could re-enter the picture. If the price has dropped to a point where the Bears feel the risk is worth the upside, they make a ton of sense as a landing spot.

The Bears have the No. 24 pick in the first round and could also include one of their secondary pass rushers like Dayo Odeyingbo or Austin Booker (the former would likely be preferable to clear $16 million in cash off the books). In return, they’d be adding a big force multiplier who’s a perfect fit in DC Dennis Allen’s defense.

A first-round pick is still a steep cost, and the Bears would have to finagle Crosby’s contract onto their books. That said, they can create well over $30 million in cap space just by restructuring base salaries that have already been guaranteed, and more if they really want. The Bears are looking to go from a division win and playoff appearance to true blue Super Bowl contenders this year. Adding a piece like Crosby is the type of move teams that are trying to get over the hump tend to make.


Philadelphia Eagles

Eagles GM Howie Roseman prides himself on how thorough his front office is on the trade market. Roseman’s worst nightmare is seeing a player he covets traded for a price he would have paid, so the Eagles are callers on just about every single player on the trade block regardless of how strong their actual interest is. They were connected to Crosby but this should contextualize that interest.

But not only has Crosby’s trade value taken a shot below the water line, the Eagles have also been bruised during free agency. They hoped to retain OLB Jaelan Phillips after trading for him midseason, but instead he’s off to Carolina on a $30 million per year deal. It leaves the Eagles light at edge rusher with just Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt under contract — promising players, but not the firepower you’d like to have coming off the edge as a Super Bowl contender.

A trade for Crosby would shift that balance back to where the Eagles are accustomed. They have nine picks this year, including extra selections in the third and fourth rounds, so if they deal their first at No. 23 overall, they still have some ammo to restock the roster with depth and cheap contributors. Fitting Crosby’s contract on their cap would be tight but not impossible, as long as they don’t trade WR A.J. Brown.

Brown also gives them an interesting asset should his situation stretch into June along with Crosby’s. The Raiders need help at receiver around Mendoza, but Brown wouldn’t fit their competitive window any better than Crosby and the Raiders would want draft capital on top of Brown. But the Eagles could potentially get picks by trading Brown to another team that they could then turn around and reinvest into a trade for Crosby. It would make it easier to handle Crosby’s contract as well. This is a subject to file away for down the line if Crosby lingers in Las Vegas past the draft.

Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks expressed interest in trading for Crosby a year ago before the 2025 season, ultimately making different plans at edge rusher that proved to be successful enough to win a Super Bowl. They lost Boye Mafe in free agency but otherwise keep the rest of a strong group. On paper, it’s not a weakness that needs addressing.

Still…

Seahawks GM John Schneider has not been afraid to swing big trades in the past, especially when his first-round picks are late in the round. Teams face a lot of natural headwinds and attrition when it comes to trying to repeat as Super Bowl champions, which is why it’s hard. Seattle is set up better than a lot of teams are, with most of its core returning. But perhaps the best way forward to another ring isn’t to trust in continuity, but to make an aggressive move in an effort to continue radically improving.

Crosby’s relentless motor and all-around game would fit in perfectly with the Seahawks and make them the favorites to finish as the No. 1 defense again in 2026. And frankly, the odds of getting a player who contributes more than Crosby will with the No. 32 overall pick aren’t all that great. The Seahawks are one of the few teams that have the cap space to take on Crosby’s contract without much adjusting, and they actually are set to lose a few players on expiring deals after next season which will make edge rusher a much bigger need.

The more you examine it, the more it looks as if the Seahawks might be sneakily strong contenders as a trade fit for Crosby.

New England Patriots

One of many insightful nuggets that came out about the Crosby trade from Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer (in a piece that’s since been overshadowed) was that the Raiders, and specifically Brady, wouldn’t have traded Crosby to the Patriots and HC Mike Vrabel if they could help it. That’s a factor to consider when evaluating New England as a potential destination. The Patriots have also been stingy when it comes to giving up substantial draft capital this offseason, declining to meet Philadelphia’s asking price for Brown despite how well he’d fit with the team and meet a major need.

Still, the Patriots have said they view pass rusher as their biggest need this offseason, and they have the draft picks and cap space to make a trade for Crosby work. New England owns 11 picks, including the No. 31 selection in the first round. They signed Dre’Mont Jones in free agency and are bringing back Harold Landry, but those players are, respectfully, not in Crosby’s zip code in terms of impact. The Super Bowl exposed how far the Patriots have to go to truly contend for a title, and adding a player like Crosby is how you close the gap.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The teams that miss out on addressing needs at edge rusher are the most likely to circle back to a potential Crosby trade down the line. The Buccaneers fit that description after making a run at signing Trey Hendrickson but losing out to the Ravens. They have not signed an edge rusher yet and the best options currently available include Joey Bosa, Jadeveon Clowney, Arnold Ebiketie and Von Miller — not the most inspiring group.

Tampa Bay has tried repeatedly to upgrade the position the last couple of years as the defensive performance has regressed, and time might be running out for HC Todd Bowles to find a fix. That could prompt the Bucs to make an aggressive trade to try and solve the issue, with Crosby the top option. It would likely cost them their first-round pick at No. 15 overall, but Crosby offers more projectability than a rookie pass rusher in that range.

Vikings OLB Jonathan Greenard looms as a trade alternative, with Minnesota seeking a Day 2 pick and Greenard looking for a new contract. He’s younger but also coming off an injury, and his salary demands might not be too far off from what Crosby is making now. For either move, the Buccaneers can make the financials work. They’re currently in the bottom third of the league in cap space but can restructure a ton of contracts to open up $30 million in room if they need.

-PFR

[rich72]

I wonder if Trey passed a physical prior to signing? He was out the last 9 games of the season last year.