Has Maxx Crosby played his final season with the Raiders?
It feels like the possibility of Crosby being traded is greater than it has ever been. There are reasons to believe both sides are more open to the idea of a trade than they were a year ago and from the team’s standpoint, the window of opportunity to get significant compensation for Crosby is only getting smaller.
Crosby will turn 29 in August and hasn’t had a healthy season since 2023. And if the Raiders are committed to a rebuild, will Crosby want to spend the last few years of his prime on a team that’s so heavily focused on the future?
A year ago, Pete Carroll played a role in selling Crosby on his future with the Raiders, so it will be interesting to see if Klint Kubiak can do the same this year.
Two weeks ago, Crosby said he hasn’t talked to the team in a “couple weeks” and while it might not be reason for concern, it’s hard to view that messaging as a positive development. Crosby is the face of the franchise, so it’s at least a little suspicious that he would use the term “in a while” since last talking to team representatives – especially considering the way the final few weeks of the season played out.
The last time the Raiders traded away a player of Crosby’s caliber was Khalil Mack, and it ended up being the biggest blunder of Jon Gruden’s second stint with the Raiders.
Gruden weighed in Crosby’s situation last week and, ironically, he said the Raiders would be one of the dumbest franchises in America if they let Crosby get away.
“I mean, if you’re anybody, you make a big play for Maxx,” Gruden said of the Buccaneers and their rumored interest in trading for Crosby.
“If you’re the Raiders, you’re one of the dumbest franchises in America if you let him out of there. He’s under contract, and he’s the best player on the team. I think he’s arguably the most impactful edge rusher in football. Absolutely. I think that’s a winning edge that a great defense has. It’s a fourth-quarter pass rush. When we got Simeon Rice, things changed for us.”
If Crosby ends up being available – and there are teams that believe he would be available for a premium pick or two – the Buccaneers will presumably join a long list of teams to inquire (if they haven’t already) about a potential trade.
Other teams that would make sense for Crosby are the Lions, 49ers, Vikings, Rams, Bills, Bears and just about every other team with playoff aspirations going into the 2026 season.
x: @raidersbeat
If anybody would know it would be Gruden. The smartest thing he has said in years but I wouldn’t put anything past the Masque-Raiders (mis)management team at this point. However, here are my suggestions on what I believe the Masque-Raiders could do, this offseason, to improve the team.
The Raiders need, in addition to a competent offensive line, competent veteran quarterback depth, namely mobile Malik Willis as the starter, who would cost much less than, and is younger than, Lamar Jackson and is on the rise. Seek out a trade for mobile, battle tested and cerebral Joshua Dobbs, from the Patriots, as the backup and then draft Fernando Mendoza, on a rookie contract. That way Mendoza won’t be under pressure to start immediately and can do what Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love did, sit for three years and learn. Thereby, by the time Mendoza is ready to start, hopefully, the Masque-Raiders will have built up the team in other areas. Equally as important, go get Philiph Rivers to mentor all three quarterbacks. In my opinion, there is NO better person to mentor young quarterbacks than Rivers. That’s how you add competent depth, and build stability, at this position.
Also, it wouldn’t hurt to address the (not so) Special teams. The offensive line and Special Teams coaches could use a serious upgrade. Look at how Seattle has revamped it’s special team. Systemic, systematic rebuilding is the road to return to respectability. Last year’s “experiment” proved ineffective and what everyone can agree on is the past few attempts at short term fixes have not produced results. It seems that we Raiders fans are stuck with the guys who call themselves “Raiders Management,” so let’s see how they, this year, address last year’s “team” and debacle that they put on the field.
Kolton Miller, Stone Forsythe, Zamir White, Dillon Laube, Tyree Wilson, Alex Cappa, Kenny Pickett, Geno Smith and lead footed, immobile Adian O’Connell all need to be let go. Their contracts could be used on inexpensive youthful players with tremendous upsides and, to a lesser degree, injury histories. Additionally, get a couple of fullbacks who are tight end body types and USE them on third and short instead of putting additional pressure on Ashton Genty. That’s called being innovative and pragmatic. The Ravens “sometimes” use Derrick Henry as a battering ram on third and short. At the very least, the Raiders should consider, if not incorporate, this tactic.
Round 1, Pick 1: Mendoza QB Indiana
Round 2, Pick 36: Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon Ducks G
Round 3, Pick 67: Akheem Mesidor, DE, Miami
Round 4, Pick 102: J.C. Davis, Illinois OT
Round 5, Pick 174: Kage Casey OL Boise State
Round 6, Pick 181: Gracen Halton, Oklahoma Sooners DT
Do not trade Max Crosby he is the heart and soul of our team, you need to get a running mate to put with Max somebody who has a motor like him, build the O, get more weapons for Mendoza, using the other 9 draft picks on the holes on both sides of the ball, DO Your Homework
That’s really rich coming from the idiot who traded Khalil Mack and did nothing with all of those first round picks but draft losers except Josh Jacobs.
No doubt! Worst talent evaluator for the Raiders since Al past. Not to mention his consistent bad roster decisions in TB. Amazing he didn’t/ still doesn’t understand what he did back in 2018.
Unfortunately the trade involving Mack didn’t get us back near as much as he thought it would seeing how the Bears suddenly became ridiculously great on defense. Add that to the Bears getting dumb Gruden to give back picks and we basically got a late #1 and some change for a top 3 defensive player. Yeah he got Jacobs but he wouldn’t have had to reach for Cle Ferrell at 4 because we wouldn’t have been there if he just paid Mack. What a stupid comment from that idiot.
Like when Gruden Traded Kahlil Mack and Amari Cooper and wasted the draft picks the Raiders received on 3 scrubs. Sit down Gruden.
Spot on Gruden must be the dumbest coach for trading Mack.
If they’re smart they will explore trading Crosby. I’ve stated it before he’s getting injured more often, they need to get some draft ammunition for the rebuild. Hopefully, Mark and his frequent man crush doesn’t interfere.
You must be out of your mind. Trading Cosby would be crazy. Trying to get Miles from the Browns is what the Raiders need to do.
Jon Gruden should shut the f–k up he traded away Khalil Mack. And, then orchestrated the demolition of the Raiders. Jon Gruden was the architect of the downfall of the Raiders. And, the owner still loved him.
Raiders should try and talk Arron Donald out of retirement to join Cosby.
Thats funny that of all people Gruden chimes in with a remark like that. Gruden says dumbest team but how dumb was Gruden trading away Mack n basically wasting the picks after getting nothing for him at the time of the trade. That is dumber than the trade itself. Gruden should stay outta Raider business.