Raiders Clinch No. 1 Pick In 2026 Draft
Before the start of their Week 18 game, the Raiders have learned their fate with respect to this year’s NFL draft. Vegas will own the top selection for the 2026 edition of the event. 
The Giants were among the teams playing in the early window for the final day of the regular season. Only New York could have overtaken Vegas for the top spot in the order, but that would have required a win against Dallas. However, the Giants beat the Cowboys 34-17. That result clinched the No. 1 pick for the Raiders.
Today’s development represents the expected outcome in this case. The Raiders lost to the Giants in Week 17, the contest which was widely known to have massive implications for the draft order. Both teams drew criticism for their roster handling in the build-up to that contest, particularly the Raiders. Tight end Brock Bowers was moved to injured reserve while edge rusher Maxx Crosby was shut down for the remainder of the season against his wishes.
Head coach Pete Carrol also objected to the idea of sidelining Crosby, who is slated to undergo meniscus surgery. The five-time Pro Bowler has already spoken out about the decision to shut him down, something which has fueled a new round of trade speculation. Managing the Crosby situation will be critical for the Raiders, a team which could undergo a number of notable changes soon.
The 2025 offseason saw numerous arrivals at all levels of the organization. That included a new coaching staff led by Carroll, although his tenure has not gone as planned. A widespread expectation exists Carroll will prove to be a one-and-done staffer. New offensive and special teams coordinators will also be required during the hiring cycle. In the meantime, attention in the front office will turn to the possibility of selecting a new quarterback.
Geno Smith was acquired via trade in a Carroll reunion, and he is under contract through 2027. The veteran has fallen well short of expectations this season, however, and the team could seek out a replacement via the draft. Smith could be retained as a bridge starter, but the acquisition of a future franchise signal-caller would be seen as a pivotal move for a Raiders team desperately in need of stability on several fronts.
Fernando Mendoza is seen by many as the top quarterback in the 2026 class, one which in general is not held in high regard. The Heisman winner is set to lead Indiana in the CFP semifinal against Oregon. That means a matchup against Dante Moore – whose intentions regarding the NFL draft are still not known – is upcoming. Vegas’ evaluation of both passers will be a major storyline over the coming months, presuming both wind up turning pro.
The rest of the draft order will be finalized as the remaining games around the league play out. Shuffling in the top five could prove to be impactful given the dearth of high-end QB prospects relative to the demand amongst many teams. In any event, the Raiders – who of course will look to avoid a repeat of the JaMarcus Russell situation from the last time they selected first overall – find themselves in position to kick off this year’s draft.
Pete Carroll Did Not Want Maxx Crosby Shut Down; Raiders Trading Star Edge Rusher In Play?
The Raiders have resisted trading Maxx Crosby amid a set of down years, giving him a monster extension to stay as the Tom Brady-John Spytek-Pete Carroll regime took over. Las Vegas’ late-season decision to shelve Crosby may represent a breaking point in this relationship.
Crosby has spoken out against the Raiders’ apparent tanking for the No. 1 overall pick, doing so after showing a video in which he played basketball and jumped on a trampoline following a report he needs meniscus surgery. Without a draft lottery in place, the team had plenty of incentive to move in this direction.
Crosby was not the only marquee Raider shut down before Week 17, as the team placed Brock Bowers on IR ahead of a pivotal loss to the Giants. While Bowers will not be going anywhere ahead of the 2026 season, Crosby no longer appears a lock to stay.
[RELATED: Raiders In Position To Land No. 1 Overall Pick]
Not long after a report indicating Crosby would evaluate his Raiders future surfaced, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini indicates many around the league are wondering about this situation. Many believe a trade could take place if this dispute persists. The Raiders could cash in the Jon Gruden 2.0-era draftee for valuable draft capital as the Brady-Spytek duo follows through with a rebuild. Carroll does not appear to be part of that vision any longer, with the Raiders expected to make him a one-and-done HC following this dismal season.
Carroll is believed to be pushing for a second season, and Outkick.com’s Armando Salguero notes that the veteran HC was overruled on Crosby. Carroll wanted Crosby for the stretch run, per Salguero, while the decision to sit him “came down from on high.” It is not exactly surprising a coach on the hot seat wanted his top player available, but a coach-front office disagreement of this sort is certainly notable given the dysfunction that has plagued the Raiders in recent years.
The four-time NFL HC pitched a quicker turnaround in his interview last year, and the Raiders went in that direction. Though, they only hired Carroll after a Brady-led push for Ben Johnson failed. That represented a striking shift, as Carroll became the oldest HC in NFL history — at 74 — this season. The Raiders are 2-14 and will likely be looking (again) for a new quarterback soon; the Carroll-Geno Smith reunion has not panned out. The No. 1 overall pick will give the Raiders a great chance to finally solve their post-Derek Carr dilemma, with Fernando Mendoza links already emerging.
Carroll understandably disagrees on the topic of a rebuild, but it appears that is where the Raiders are headed. Crosby is signed through 2029, with three years (and $106.5MM) tacked onto his previous deal. With $30MM of Crosby’s 2025 compensation tied up in base salary, the Raiders would not eat much dead money by moving him in 2026. The team would incur barely $5MM by dealing this contract. With Crosby exiting his age-28 season, plenty of suitors would emerge.
Mark Davis has shut down Crosby trade inquiries in the past (including at this year’s deadline), but time is running out to sell high here. Crosby will be entering his eighth NFL season in 2026. He has made five straight Pro Bowls and finished with the most tackles for loss in the NFL in 2022 and ’23, doing so despite the Raiders struggling and not giving him much help in terms of a sidekick bookend in those years. Crosby actually improved on his TFL number this season, delivering 28 before his season ended against his wishes after 15 games. That is a career-best number by five, though Myles Garrett‘s 32 — a number that sits behind only J.J. Watt‘s transcendent 2012 for most this century — leads the league.
I discussed the prospect of Crosby being a clearer 2026 trade candidate than Garrett in this week’s PFR Chat, even as the Browns icon is in a similar position. Crosby is also more than a year younger, giving the Raiders an interesting opportunity. While it would be difficult to replace Crosby, it appears Brady and Spytek are much more open to the idea compared to Carroll. That could win out for Davis. Speaking out against such an approach previously, Crosby will likely find himself in trade rumors soon.
Raiders Expected To Fire HC Pete Carroll
A clear majority of PFR’s readers believe Pete Carroll will be a one-and-done head coach in Vegas. Signs continue to point in that direction. 
Carroll is expected to be dismissed following Week 18, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reports. A departure could still come in the form of retirement, NFL insider Jordan Schultz adds. In any case, yet another Raiders coaching search appears to be forthcoming.
Owner Mark Davis has not yet stated which way he is leaning to anyone in the organization, according to Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Their report nevertheless confirms Carroll is set to be replaced this offseason. With Vegas on track to secure the No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft, meanwhile, a major reset will likely be in store over the coming months.
Carroll has been “fighting for another year” at the helm of the Raiders, per the NFLN report. The 2025 season has been messy to say the least, however, with two coordinators being fired in the middle of the campaign. Vegas’ offense has struggled throughout the season, and selecting a rookie at the top of the draft could allow for the team to move in a new direction for 2026 and beyond. At the age of 74, Carroll naturally does not profile as a candidate regarding a long-term overhaul.
A win-now campaign (or at least something close to it) was the goal with Carroll, first-year general manager John Spytek, minority owner Tom Brady and veteran quarterback Geno Smith being brought in last offseason. The reunion between Carroll and Smith has not yielded the desired results, and Vegas enters tomorrow’s action with 14 losses – including 10 in a row. Widespread evaluations of coaching and quarterback options will become a central priority provided the Raiders do indeed make a change on the sidelines.
Jones, Schultz and Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer note Brady is set to play a leading role in not only the HC search but also the process of evaluating quarterback options. The seven-time Super Bowl champion is known to be a central voice in the Raiders’ decision-making, and that should be expected to remain the case for the foreseeable future. As Michael Silver of The Athletic writes (subscription required), Davis has treated Brady as the “de facto boss” of the team with respect to football matters. Per Silver, even some inside the organization are unsure of who is behind certain decisions given the Davis-Brady dynamic.
Stability in the front office over an extended period would of course be welcomed in the Raiders’ case considering the changes which have been commonplace on that front over time. A long-running cycle of moves on the sidelines has defined the franchise as well, and it seems as though another reset in that regard is imminent.
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/3/26
After the final standard gameday practice squad elevations of the 2025 regular season, the three-game elevation limit resets for the postseason, so only players getting signed to the 53-man roster because of the limit will be noted today. Saturday’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed from practice squad: WR Tejhaun Palmer
- Elevated: CB Jaden Davis, WR Steven Sims
Atlanta Falcons
- Elevated: P Trenton Gill
Baltimore Ravens
- Elevated: WR Keith Kirkwood, CB Amani Oruwariye
Buffalo Bills
- Elevated: LB Keonta Jenkins, DE Matt Judon
Chicago Bears
- Elevated: TE Nikola Kalinic, LB Ty Summers
Cincinnati Bengals
- Elevated: DT Howard Cross III, CB Bralyn Lux
Cleveland Browns
- Signed from practice squad: LB Edefuan Ulofoshio
- Elevated: TE Sal Cannella
- Placed on IR: LB Carson Schwesinger
Dallas Cowboys
- Activated from IR: RB Phil Mafah
- Activated from reserve/PUP: CB Josh Butler
- Signed from practice squad: LB Justin Barron
- Elevated: G Nick Leverett
- Placed on IR: G T.J. Bass, RB Malik Davis, RB Javonte Williams
Denver Broncos
- Elevated: LB Levelle Bailey
Detroit Lions
- Elevated: TE Zach Horton, OL Chris Hubbard
- Placed on IR: OL Trystan Colon
Green Bay Packers
- Signed from practice squad: WR Jakobie Keeney-James, G Lecitus Smith
- Elevated: TE Drake Dabney, LB Jamon Johnson
- Placed on IR: OL Donovan Jennings, WR Savion Williams
Houston Texans
- Elevated: DT Leki Fotu, S Kaevon Merriweather
Indianapolis Colts
- Elevated: QB Seth Henigan, TE Sean McKeon
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Elevated: TE Patrick Herbert
Kansas City Chiefs
- Elevated: WR Jason Brownlee, WR Jimmy Holiday
Las Vegas Raiders
- Elevated: LB Jamin Davis, T Dalton Wagner
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed from practice squad: S Marcus Maye
- Elevated: G Branson Taylor, QB DJ Uiagalelei
- Placed on IR: CB Nikko Reed
Miami Dolphins
- Elevated: LB Derrick McLendon, RB Jeff Wilson
Minnesota Vikings
- Elevated: WR Jeshaun Jones, LB Sione Takitaki
New Orleans Saints
- Signed from practice squad: TE Treyton Welch
- Elevated: QB Jake Haener, RB Nyheim Miller-Hines
New York Giants
- Signed from practice squad: CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse, WR Xavier Gipson, RB Dante Miller
- Elevated: TE Tanner Conner, DT Casey Rogers
- Placed on IR: CB Cor’Dale Flott, DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches Sr., WR Wan’Dale Robinson
New York Jets
- Signed from practice squad: QB Hendon Hooker, DE Kingsley Jonathan, G Kohl Levao
- Elevated: RB Raheem Blackshear, CB Samuel Womack III
- Placed on IR: RB Isaiah Davis, OL Xavier Newman-Johnson, TE Mason Taylor
Philadelphia Eagles
- Elevated: LS Charley Hughlett, S Brandon Johnson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Elevated: CB D’Shawn Jamison
San Francisco 49ers
- Elevated: LB Eric Kendricks, T Brandon Parker
Seattle Seahawks
- Elevated: RB Cam Akers, CB Tyler Hall
Tennessee Titans
- Activated from IR: OLB Ali Gaye, WR Bryce Oliver
- Signed from practice squad: CB Kemon Hall
- Elevated: TE Cole Turner
- Placed on IR: CB Jalyn Armour-Davis (story), WR Van Jefferson
Washington Commanders
- Elevated: DT Ricky Barber, WR River Cracraft
The Browns made it known yesterday that they were shutting down Schwesinger and tight ends David Njoku and Harold Fannin Jr. for the final week of the season, but the Defensive Rookie of the Year-favorite is the only one to land on IR.
In Dallas, Williams failed to practice this week as he dealt with shoulder and neck issues. With Davis also being placed on IR, the Cowboys will rely on rookie fifth-rounder Jaydon Blue and the recently activated Mafah, a seventh-round rookie, in Week 18. The team used their eighth and final IR activation to bring Mafah back for a potential NFL debut.
Because Green Bay didn’t elevate recently signed practice squad quarterback Desmond Ridder, it appears either Malik Willis will be healthy enough to back up Clayton Tune or Jordan Love will serve as the potential QB2 for the Packers in Week 18.
Judon is set to make his Bills debut in the team’s regular season finale after signing to their practice squad two weeks ago.
With Saints backup quarterback Spencer Rattler not practicing this week with a finger injury, Haener gets the call to back up rookie Tyler Shough.
Hall in Tennessee had already been called up as a standard gameday practice squad elevation three times this season. In order for him to appear in the Titans’ regular season finale, the move to the 53-man roster was necessary.
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/1/26
Here’s our first minor NFL transactions of the 2026 calendar year:
Arizona Cardinals
- Claimed off waivers (from Vikings): LB Austin Keys
- Placed on IR: S Kitan Crawford
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed from practice squad: DE Khalid Kareem
- Placed on IR: CB Mike Hughes
Baltimore Ravens
- Waived: G Ben Cleveland
Miami Dolphins
- Signed off Raiders’ practice squad: QB Cam Miller
New England Patriots
- Signed from practice squad: CB Kobee Minor
Philadelphia Eagles
- Activated from IR: T Cameron Williams
After suspending him three weeks ago, the Ravens have finally removed Cleveland from the 53-man roster. The former third-round pick out of Georgia has never lived up to his draft stock and, despite struggles with the interior line in Baltimore, failed to ever earn a role on offense. Legal trouble in the offseason didn’t stop the team from re-signing him to a one-year deal, but whatever the cause for the suspension, it seems it was severe enough to end the contract. It’s unclear if they’ll look to retain Cleveland on the practice squad.
After miss two games earlier this year, Hughes has sat out of the Falcons’ last three contests with an ankle injury. The starting cornerback coming back from injury for a meaningless regular season finale doesn’t make much sense, so Atlanta has placed him on injured reserve to free up a spot on the 53-man roster.
Williams, the sixth-round rookie out of Texas, may not make his NFL debut this weekend, unless, maybe, on special teams, but his activation ensures he doesn’t spend nearly his entire rookie year on IR.
Raiders’ Maxx Crosby Addresses IR Move
In advance of their Week 17 game, the Raiders and Giants both shut down a number of players by moving them to injured reserve. The lengths Vegas went to drew criticism from some, but by losing to New York the team is now on track to select first overall in April’s draft.
Maxx Crosby has dealt with a knee injury since October, and he intended to remain on the field through the final two weeks of the season. The Raiders moved him to injured reserve, however, removing the chance of the ailment being worsened down the stretch. Attention will now turn to meniscus surgery but also the question of Crosby’s outlook with the franchise.
In the aftermath of Vegas’ decision to shut him down, it was reported the five-time Pro Bowler would contemplate his future with the team. Crosby has spent his entire seven-year career with the Raiders, and he signed an extension in March. The 28-year-old made his first public comments on the situation during an appearance on SiriusXM’s Let’s Go! podcast.
“[W]hen it comes to football, there’s certain things that I truly believe in, and I feel like there’s core principles that you gotta live by, and there’s a certain way the game needs to be played,” Crosby said. “And there’s a certain approach that you have when you go onto the field. And the way you look at it, from my perspective, is you play to win. You play for your teammates, you put everything you have into the game, no matter what it is. There’s gonna be bumps and bruises. You’re gonna be banged up. That is a part of the game and the nature of the beast.”
While those remarks represent a less-than-flattering perspective on the Raiders and how they approached the end of the season, Crosby did not offer any comments regarding his future. The former fourth-rounder has remained one of the league’s most productive edge rushers over the course of his career with 69.5 sacks in 110 games. That kind of output will be expected moving forward, presuming of course Crosby remains in place.
The Raiders will close out their season against the Chiefs on Sunday. A loss will guarantee the No. 1 pick and set up what could be a reset at the quarterback position for the franchise. Regardless, Crosby’s status – and a definitive stance on his intentions – will remain something to monitor moving forward.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/30/25
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: TE Messiah Swinson
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: WR Mecole Hardman
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: TE Ross Dwelley
Denver Broncos
- Signed: OL Calvin Throckmorton
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: RB Damien Martinez
Houston Texans
- Signed: DE Solomon Byrd
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: S Wyett Ekeler
- Released: OL Zachary Thomas
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: LB Kam Arnold, DT Marcus Harris
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: S Brandon Hill
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: DT Simeon Barrow Jr.
New England Patriots
- Signed: TE Marshall Lang
- Released: RB Jashaun Corbin
New York Giants
- Signed: CB Myles Purchase
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: LS Charley Hughlett
- Released: DE Titus Leo
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: RB Josh Williams
- Released: RB Michael Wiley
Updated 2026 NFL Draft Order
Aside from tonight’s Rams-Falcons game, Week 17 is in the books. Most of the playoff field has been set in both conferences, but there is still plenty to be determined regarding the first-round draft order.
By virtue of their loss on Sunday, the Raiders are now in pole position to secure the No. 1 pick. Vegas sits at 2-14 on the year, with four teams sporting a record of 3-13. Only one of those, however – the Giants – is still in contention to land the top selection. Vegas will play against Kansas City in Week 18, while New York’s season will end against Dallas.
Fernando Mendoza looms as the projected top quarterback option in the 2026 class, with the futures of Dante Moore and Ty Simpson still uncertain. Demand usually outweighs supply at the top of the draft when it comes to signal-callers, and scarcity at the position could very well come into play in April. Mendoza may find himself on the radar of teams not immediately in need of a quarterback depending on how things play out.
For non-playoff teams, the draft order is determined by the inverted 2025 standings plus a series of tiebreakers, starting with strength of schedule. Playoff squads are slotted by their postseason outcome and the reverse order of their regular season record.
Here is an updated look at the first-round order:
- Las Vegas Raiders (2-14)
- New York Giants (3-13)
- New York Jets (3-13)
- Tennessee Titans (3-13)
- Arizona Cardinals (3-13)
- Cleveland Browns (4-12)
- Washington Commanders (4-12)
- New Orleans Saints (6-10)
- Kansas City Chiefs (6-10)
- Cincinnati Bengals (6-10)
- Los Angeles Rams (via Falcons)
- Miami Dolphins (7-9)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9)
- Dallas Cowboys (7-8-1)
- Detroit Lions (8-8)
- Baltimore Ravens (8-8)
- Minnesota Vikings (8-8)
- New York Jets (via Colts)
- Carolina Panthers (8-8)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)
- Dallas Cowboys (via Packers)
- Los Angeles Chargers (11-5)
- Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)
- Buffalo Bills (11-5)
- Chicago Bears (11-5)
- Houston Texans (11-5)
- Los Angeles Rams (11-4)
- Cleveland Browns (via Jaguars)
- San Francisco 49ers (12-4)
- New England Patriots (13-3)
- Denver Broncos (13-3)
- Seattle Seahawks (13-3)
Pete Carroll Addresses Job Security; Raiders Interested In Jesse Minter?
The Raiders took a step toward securing the first overall pick by losing yesterday. Vegas now has a record of 2-14, though, and the team has lost 10 straight games.
The fate of head coach Pete Carrol therefore remains something to watch closely as ‘Black Monday’ approaches. The Super Bowl winner has been named a strong one-and-done candidate on multiple occasions, although he fully plans to remain with the Raiders beyond the final week of the season. Carroll spoke after Sunday’s loss and reiterated his stance that ownership still backs him.
“I do. From all the guys I’ve talked to, I do feel like I have their support,” the 74-year-old said (video link). “What does that mean? I don’t know, but our conversations have been really good.”
Such remarks are commonplace late in the season for coaches in danger of being dismissed. As Carroll is no doubt well aware, dialogue with ownership in no way guarantees stability from one year to the next. The Raiders in particular have cycled through a long list of HC and GM combinations in recent years, including the organization’s reshaping in 2025. Carroll was hired during Tom Brady‘s first offseason as an official minority owner, one in which John Spytek was brought in as general manager.
Things have certainly not gone according to plan this year. Carroll has already fired a pair of coordinators – including the highly-compensated Chip Kelly – with production on offense proving to be a major challenge. The Raiders also rank 25th in the NFL in scoring defense, an illustration of the extent to which widespread improvement will be required in 2026. Two HC vacancies currently exist around the league, and more will soon open; whether or not Vegas joins the list of suitors for a new coach will be interesting to monitor over the coming days.
In the event a change is made on the sidelines, several staffers with a defensive background are set to dominate the pool of replacement candidates. One of those is Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, whom Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated identifies as a “name to keep an eye on” with respect to Vegas. Minter developed a strong track record in the college ranks before following Jim Harbaugh from Michigan to the Bolts in 2024. Los Angeles has thrived defensively under Minter. The 42-year-old has not served as a head coach yet during his career, but that could soon change and the Raiders could find themselves amongst his suitors.
Raiders Now In Line To Land 2026 No. 1 Overall Pick
DECEMBER 29: ESPN’s Dan Graziano reports some in the Giants’ organization found the Raiders’ IR moves leading up to yesterday’s game to be suspicious. They certainly helped Vegas move into pole position for the top selection, however. Similar actions can be expected in future years when games critical to determining the draft order take place late in the season.
DECEMBER 28: In what would be a snoozer of a game any time before, say, Week 14, today’s matchup between the two teams with the worst records in the NFL held huge implications for each franchise’s future. With a loss today, the Giants could have all but locked up the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, but after New York blew out Las Vegas to the tune of 34-10, the Raiders now sit in the driver’s seat heading into the regular season finale.
It seems only two teams remain eligible to secure the top pick in the league’s next draft, and it’s still the two who played each other today. According to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan, the Giants still hold a 20% chance to land the No. 1 overall pick by losing next week, when they host the Cowboys, and seeing Vegas beat the Chiefs. Raanan’s ESPN coworker, Adam Schefter, followed up Raanan’s report to point out the remaining 80 percent of probability belongs solely to the Raiders, who can secure the top pick with a Week 18 home loss to Kansas City.
A couple factors should give New York fans some hope behind their smaller odds. Todd Archer, another contributor at ESPN, reported shortly after the Cowboys’ Christmas Day game that quarterback Dak Prescott has “pride” in starting the final game of the 2025 season, giving the Giants a tougher matchup for the final week of the season. Additionally, the Chiefs offense will be led by QB3 Chris Oladokun after both Patrick Mahomes and Gardner Minshew suffered season-ending injuries.
Working against the Giants’ odds is the fact that the Raiders appear to be self-handicapping their team for what could be an easy matchup against the ailing Chiefs to close out the year. All before the penultimate week of the regular season, the Raiders shut down the seasons of starting offensive guard Jordan Meredith, star tight end Brock Bowers, and starting safety Jeremy Chinn, not to mention star pass rusher Maxx Crosby. Additionally, after starting quarterback Geno Smith left today’s game with an injury, head coach Pete Carroll announced that Smith would miss the team’s regular season finale with a high ankle sprain, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
The move to place Crosby on injured reserve seems especially blatant as Crosby has been banging the table, advocating for himself, wanting to play out the rest of the season. Crosby had started every game this year up until this week despite suffering a midseason knee injury that both player and team have known for a while would require a meniscus trim procedure to repair. Las Vegas made the move to place Crosby on IR yesterday and plan his surgery against the will of the star pass rusher, ending his season and causing him to walk out of the team facility.
Crosby spoke against the transaction, telling the media that he doesn’t care “about the pick” and that his “job is to be the best defensive end in the world.” Crosby even received two alternative medical opinions on his situation, both of which indicated that he could continue to play, provided he could handle any accompanying pain. Seemingly to speak out against his team’s decision and prove he could still play, Crosby posted videos to his Instagram story yesterday that showed him playing basketball and playing with his daughter on a trampoline, activities that would be difficult for someone with a season-ending knee injury.
Regardless, heading into the final week of the regular season, the Raiders will enter a winnable game against an injury-riddled Chiefs squad without Smith, Bowers, Meredith, Chinn, and Crosby, as well as earlier-injured starting offensive linemen Kolton Miller and Jackson Powers-Johnson. The Giants will head into a tough matchup against a favored Cowboys team, but their draft slot will likely be determined by the actions of the Raiders, who seem to unashamedly be aiming for the No. 1 overall pick.