Antonio Pierce‘s early stretch as the Raiders’ full-time HC is going worse than his interim period began. The team is 2-4 and has lost one-sided matchups to the Broncos and Steelers in successive weeks. Pierce has benched Gardner Minshew, and the Raiders signed off on their long-rumored Davante Adams trade Tuesday.
Teams will undoubtedly be checking in to see if the Raiders are interesting in selling other pieces. One player who will not be available: Maxx Crosby. Although Las Vegas is struggling, Crosby represents a foundational piece and would be on track for an extension — potentially as soon as 2025.
“It’s unfortunate today, but there’s so much outside chatter that is not true,” Davis said, via The Athletic’s Vic Tafur and Tashan Reed (subscription required). “It’s not coming from any sources. It’s not coming from anything. My basic thing is never to answer all that stuff because, otherwise, you get trapped in this black hole. It’s just not happening.”
Easily the best move from the second Jon Gruden era, the Raiders chose Crosby in the 2019 fourth round. The Eastern Michigan product has been a revelation, leading the NFL in tackles for loss in 2022 and ’23. The Raiders extended their standout edge rusher in 2022, and their decision to authorize what amounted to a $6MM raise this offseason effectively points to a longer-term commitment — as opposed to a player the team would consider dealing before the deadline. Crosby also received a $1.2MM bump for 2025; his four-year, $98.98MM contract runs through 2026.
Crosby came up in trade rumors before last year’s deadline as well; teams called to gauge the Silver and Black’s interest in moving their best player. Despite another slow start, Las Vegas is prepared to pass. Crosby, 27, is leading the NFL in TFLs this season as well. He has tallied nine, with 5.5 sacks to go along with that impressive total.
The Raiders have shuffled through Crosby complementary pieces, sending out Yannick Ngakoue after one season and cutting Chandler Jones following a series of strange developments surrounding the 2022 free agency addition. Would-be starter Malcolm Koonce is out for the season. A top-10 pick in 2023, Tyree Wilson has started one game this season and has yet to record a sack or a tackle for loss. Yet, Crosby continues to produce. With Adams now gone, there is no question who the Raiders’ top player is. And the team intends to maintain this beyond 2024. Crosby is interested in a full-career Raiders run, having said as much this summer.
Teams calling about Raiders could look to Josh McDaniels-era pickup Jakobi Meyers, who is signed through 2025, and contract-year DBs Nate Hobbs and Tre’von Moehrig. With McDaniels and Dave Ziegler still in charge last year, the team rebuffed the 49ers’ interest in Hobbs. But the established cornerback being unsigned beyond 2021 will naturally invite interest from coverage-needy clubs. A team in need of a backup or an emergency starter could also call on Minshew, who is signed through 2025 but has $3.16MM in guaranteed salary (as part of an $11.84MM base, since the team has pivoted to Aidan O’Connell already.
Send Maxx Crosby and a 5th round pick to Detroit for 2025 1st and 3rd round picks, and 2026 1st and conditional 3rd, to become a 2nd.
Who says no? Raiders get premium picks Day 1 & 2 in back to back years. Detroit gets their pass rusher opposite of Hutch next year and also someone who fits their timeline and make it to the super bowl who will be 28 next year.
Steep price to pay, but I think this puts them as the best team in the NFC with this deal.
I could see a case for both saying no. At this point, Crosby is one of the only things on the Raiders worth watching or rooting for–or there to entice whoever their next coach is. Unless something goes wildly wrong, those Detroit first rounders will be in the 20s, and this is a draft where people think the high end talent is shallower than that. And for as fun as it would be to see Crosby on a Detroit team going all in, with all the big contracts they’ve signed, they’re going to need high draft picks to turn into cheap starters. (I think Raiders more likely say no, though.)
Raiders. If they’re trading Crosby it’s probably 3 firsts since he’s under contract for 2 more years plus rest of this season.
They can get a better deal from teams in the off season if he’s healthy. Least higher pick value than late 20s and late 2nd and 3rd rounders.
Texans should definitely be in the mix and potentially offer 3 1sts with stroud under contract cheap on his rookie deal.
Also an injury away from fetching less. As he approaches 30 his body will inevitably wear down. I don’t know the locker room situation. If they win this week he’s probably their guy.
It’s an intriguing deal between an NFC and AFC team that COULD happen.
The framework of the deal seems there.
Everyone is an injury away from fetching less.
He’s healthy now, I think, I don’t follow the raiders but he’s productive and signed to a reasonable contract for a pass rusher.
A team with a rookie contract QB who can afford to deal draft picks and sign free agents instead should definitely be in on his services
Houston
Washington
Come to mind
I agree with you that Maxx might be worth 3 1’s. However, he’s also 28 and i’m not saying he’ll wear down but the chances of injuries grow as you get older. I do agree that Houston if they are serious should be all over this deal, but Stroud’s NFL altering 2nd contract will likely defer them from this type of move at the moment. I think Houston will try and land Hassan Reddick in some capacity and much cheaper draft compensation than what Crosby will cost roughly.
Strouds 2nd contract is 4 years away if they decide to go that route
3rd year
4th year
5th year option
Franchise tag if it comes to that.
They can afford to add salary the next 2-3 years possibly up to the 4th year.
Crosbys contract expires well before then as do others who will be coming off the books.
They can definitely afford to trade 3 1sts and bring in guys on low years high aav deals to replace 1st rounders.
I’d love Houston to acquire Crosby and go for the kill against KC and other teams in the AFC. The bigger question remains, does Mark Davis decide to trade him inner conference? Not disagreeing with anything you are saying but I just have a hard time that Bowl Cut boy will trade his best asset to a team that’s arguably going to have a top 2 team in the AFC for the next few years.
Should he? Yes
It’s out of the division and hopefully means Houston will challenge kc in the playoffs better.
Will he? Nah.
It’s what bad franchises do. Panthers could have taken 2 1st rounders for Burns. Wound up with what a 2nd rounder in the end playing around?
Houston has already heavily, heavily invested in two edge players. They’re not dropping multiple firsts and a huge contract on a third.
And maxx Crosby makes them better.
Jets invested heavily in the wr room prior to bringing over Adams when they spent a top 10 pick on Wilson, signed Lazard, signed Mike Williams, and invested a high 2nd in breece hall.
Just cause you invest already shouldn’t preclude you from improving the roster, even if it’s an area of strength.
You can never have too many pass rushers in a conference where Patrick Mahomes Josh Allen Lamar Jackson are in your way to the Super Bowl. Adding Maxx Crosby means Denico Autry and Mario Edward’s jr become good rotation options to keep guys fresh.
Las Vegas says no, easily. Not that the deal you’re proposing might not be fair, but the owner just emphatically said they aren’t trading him. To change a team’s mind, you can’t do fair; that other team has to feel they’re winning the trade. That means it probably takes 3 firsts (Detroit’s 1sts will have less value) plus a young player and a day 2 selection, just guessing.
Hobbs isn’t signed beyond 2021…so he’s free, why trade him?
Just going to throw this one out there…
Tee Higgins for Max Crosby.
Dump in Sam Hubbard and whatever draft picks each way it takes to grease the wheels.
Face of the franchise for a rental is a tough sell.
Brad Holmes is not giving up three first-round picks for anyone. Crosby is awesome, but they will pursue something more doable, such as Hendrickson or Garrett. If he’s available, a second will probably close the deal for TH, and maybe a conditional first and a late-round pick could get MG. That said, I think he will go for something less superstarish.
They’re not getting either. The Lions are effed and they know it. You don’t recover from losing blue chip players. They don’t have a pass rush. Frankly, they never did outside of Hutch. And they’re depending on two rookies and a FA on the back end.
Gonna be a lot of 40-39 games in Detroit this year.
I think Maxx is the only player with his team tattooed on him. Like maxx said recently. “I ain’t going nowhere I got this sh*t tattooed on me “. Maxx ain’t going anywhere.