John Spytek spoke with members of the media on Tuesday, and the Raiders’ second-year GM shared an optimistic outlook on Maxx Crosby’s future in Las Vegas.
“Maxx is an elite player… [and] we’re in the business of having really good players on the team and we need a lot more of them and it’s hard to build a great team without elite players,” Spytek said at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis on Tuesday afternoon.
“Maxx and I have a great relationship. He’s in the building every day getting healthy right now. We talk on the phone. We text. I have a great relationship with Maxx… Maxx and I have had great conversations. I’m comfortable there.”
But despite Spytek’s comments, not everyone is sold on Crosby returning to the Raiders in 2026, and ESPN’s Louis Riddick offered his doubts shortly after Spytek’s message.
“I think John answered that question. He said we’re not ruling it out, so what he’s saying is if you want him come get him but you’re going to pay. You’re going pay up,” Riddick said on ESPN’s NFL Live.
“He knows. He knows that his team is devoid of talent… It’s not like teams just give you players. You’ve got to go select them and the only way you can select them is if you get draft picks… of course [they] don’t want to give away players like Maxx Crosby. He’s the quintessential Las Vegas Raider… You don’t want to let those guys go, but this is a business. There’s a salary cap. You only have a fixed amount of assets to work with and the only way you can change that and acquire more is you’ve got to give up something to get something,” Riddick continued.
“They may have to give up Maxx Crosby in order for them down the road to be a contending team. I wouldn’t rule it out. As a matter of fact, I would bet on that happening more than him staying there because of what they need.”
To Riddick’s point, what else was Spytek supposed to say on the Crosby situation?
If he acknowledged Crosby might be on the trade block, he lessens Crosby’s trade value. That’s the first rule in trade negotiations.
The best way to maximize a player’s trade value is to put out the message that the player isn’t available – or that you aren’t interested in trading the player.
No doubt, Spytek and the Raiders have had conversations about a potential trade involving Crosby and to this point, there obviously hasn’t been an agreement reached. For now, teams interested in trading for Crosby need to believe the decision makers in Las Vegas are willing to walk away.
Whether the Raiders plan to keep Crosby or not, they have every reason to send the message that he is a part of the organization’s long-term plans and that’s exactly what Spytek did on Tuesday.
x: @raidersbeat
If Spy & Tom are really considering it than it better be a franchise altering deal. I’m thinking top QB like transaction. Multiple 1’s (3) if not that high and multiple day 2 picks from multiple years. It wouldn’t hurt to get possible young starters put of any teams as well.
If a team is trading for Maxx then more than likely they are one of the few Super Bowl hopefuls. If Maxx puts them over the top then it shouldn’t matter the costs.
IMO he stays because other teams won’t pay what Maxx is truly worth.
Raider Nation,
I like your thinking about what type of teams might be interested in trading for Max. To me, that team would be the Detroit Lions. I believe that they are truly one or two players away from reaching the Super Bowl.