The Raiders and Maxx Crosby are in the middle of what NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport called “as complicated a situation as I can remember” and trade rumors around Crosby are expected to ramp up this week at the NFL Combine.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported last week that the Raiders don’t prefer to trade Crosby and there has been some debate as to what Crosby’s trade value would look like if becomes available.
Jay Glazer, who seems to be Crosby’s closest connection at the national media level, believes Crosby will be worth two first-round picks and a player. Most of Glazer’s counterparts in the industry don’t believe the Raiders would get compensation like that for Crosby and Raider Nation Radio host Q Myers explained this week why he doesn’t see Crosby as a player at the level of Micah Parsons or even Khalil Mack.
“As much as I really appreciate Maxx, and I think that obviously he’s the identity of the Raiders, he doesn’t make the Micah Parsons plays consistently. He doesn’t make the T.J. Watt plays consistently. He’s not making the Myles Garrett plays consistently,” Myers said on the Locked on Raiders Squad Show podcast.
“I think that’s part of his game that he would tell you that he wants to continue to improve, where it’s third and long, and all of a sudden, he’s getting a strip sack to get him off the field… being that closer. I think that that’s where he elevates his game, takes it to the next level. There’s a lot of really good plays that Maxx makes, but there’s some that aren’t made that I’d like to see him start making.”
“If we’re going to talk about being legendary and being the best of the best, that’s part of it. I don’t think that that’s unfair criticism. That’s part of it, is being able to close the game out when your team need to do the most,” Myers continued.
“I always go back to Khalil Mack. More times than not, how many times did Khalil Mack make that closing play? How many times did he come up with a strip sack at the end of the game, or come up with an interception, or come up with something that was a game changer that would help the Raiders win that game? That’s Maxx’s next step in his maturation as far as his ability [and]… that’s another reason why I don’t think he gets those two first round picks and a premium player in return.”
Myers didn’t mention injuries, but it’s also worth noting that Crosby has dealt with injuries for the last two seasons. And despite the fact that Crosby played through most of his injuries, he hasn’t been heathy for a full season since 2023.
Crosby’s play in 2023 was on par with Mack, but if teams believe injuries are going to impact Crosby’s career going forward, that could factor into his trade value, as well.
Crosby hasn’t addressed the trade rumors directly, but there are some who believe his situation in Las Vegas is beyond repair.
Only Crosby can speak on his mindset, and his mindset can always change, but Sports Illustrated insider Albert Breer said last week that Crosby was in a particularly bad place with the team at the beginning of the month.
“Does Maxx Crosby still feel as strongly as he did a couple weeks ago when I think he had almost mentally detached himself from playing for the Raiders anymore?” Breer asked last Monday on the Breer Report.
“[Maxx] is a guy who puts great value in being a Raider, has always wanted to be a one team guy, as rare as those are in today’s NFL. He’s always wanted to be a one team guy and has a really strong relationship with Mark Davis and that relationship is really part of what’s kept Crosby on board as a Raider. When you’ve got that strong of a relationship with the owner, you want to do right by the owner. You want to help the owner win and that can be a motivating factor not to have wandering eyes.”
“But now that he has had those wandering eyes, what does that look like?” Breer continued. “I think over a quarter of the league has already sort of sniffed around the possibility of [trading for] Crosby… the idea of adding Maxx Crosby would obviously be enticing to a lot of teams and the Raiders could bring back a big haul.”
x: @raidersbeat
Mack wanted top dollar and no longer wanted to be a raider just like Jacobs. After he got paid and left, he only showed up for big games. If Gruden would’ve let Mayock make the personnel choices that trade would’ve likely been a big win.
Crosby freelances too much. It was mentioned that he always plays hard even and meaningless games. But that’s not true if you watch closely and see him every week. If you can get two firsts and a third and a young top shelf player it would be stupid not to make the trade.
I agree he does over run and sometimes leaves that side open for a run or a quarterback to escape… with that much speed and power i would try him at middlelinebacker. Maybe just maybe something good could happen… he does have good reaction and could stop teams from running on the defense. But if he wants to go let him go… can’t blame him for wanting to have a chance at a superbowl.