The Raiders and Maxx Crosby seem to be at a better place than they were at the end of the season (when Crosby reportedly requested a trade), but is there a chance a trade could still happen?
ESPN’s Adam Schefter said last month he could see Crosby being a “Raider for life” and he doubled down on that statement on Monday, albeit with a little wiggle room depending on how the Raiders perform on the field this year.
“I know a lot of people are thinking that Max Crosby wants to be trading. He wants to be there right now. And I think he’s going to be there,” Schefter said on the Pat McAfee Show.
“I think the real question with Maxx Crosby and his future in Vegas comes down to what happens if this team doesn’t perform well. What if there’s a contender out there before the trade deadline that wants to beef up its pass rush? Could we see a team later this season, if the Raiders season is slipping away, make a run at Maxx Crosby? I could see that being a possibility in October. That I see.”
Raiders expected to get offers for Crosby around the trade deadline
It happens every year, but this year could be a bidding war for Crosby if the Raiders aren’t playing well ahead of the trade deadline.
There was clearly a message coming from somewhere last month that Crosby could still be acquired for the right price, and there’s a case to be made that Crosby’s career timeline might not line up with the roster rebuild in Las Vegas.
For now, though, it doesn’t seem like Crosby will be going anywhere – at least for a few months and maybe not even then.
Keep an eye on Kirk Cousins at the trade deadline
For as much as the Raiders have propped up Kirk Cousins going into the season, everyone knows Cousins isn’t the long-term answer at quarterback in Las Vegas.
John Spytek didn’t turn down massive trade offers for the no. 1 pick just to let Cousins seize the job for an extended period of time.
Someone is going to need a quarterback ahead of the trade deadline and Cousins is a player that could come with a cheap price tag and win a game or two in the playoffs.
If the Raiders can get a draft pick for their 37-year-old quarterback around the trade deadline and keep Aidan O’Connell as a backup, it would be a big win for everyone involved.
x: @raidersbeat
O’Connell isn’t going to stick around. He believes that he could be a starting quarterback in the NFL. And I think anyone with a clue believes that to be true. I would certainly rather have him as a starter than five or six starters in the league right now.
I don’t think anyone sees the sh!t show that is coming. Cousins and a first pick in the draft quarterback that won’t be ready next season to start. And if he’s forced into duty, will be buying for the first pick in the draft again after next season. And then the marquee quarterbacks coming out in next year‘s draft will be gone. Think that looks like hyperbole? Keep it in mind.