LAS VEGAS — The trade talk surrounding Maxx Crosby won’t stay quiet. Just weeks after a reported blockbuster deal with the Baltimore Ravens fell apart in March, a new draft-day scenario has the NFL world buzzing. ESPN’s Bill Barnwell proposed a massive trade on Monday that would send the All-Pro edge rusher to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a package including the No. 23 overall pick and pass rusher Nolan Smith.
Barnwell’s Draft-Day Logic: A Win-Win for the Desert and the Birds?
The Raiders find themselves in a strange limbo. Despite signing veteran Kirk Cousins last month to steady the offense, analysts wonder if the roster can support a deep playoff run. Crosby turns 29 in August, putting him right at the tail end of his prime. Barnwell argues that the Raiders’ timeline simply doesn’t match Crosby’s urgency to chase a ring. If Las Vegas isn’t ready to compete for a Super Bowl in 2026, keeping a high-value asset like Crosby might actually hinder their long-term rebuild.
The proposed deal is hefty: Philadelphia sends the 23rd overall pick in this month’s draft, a 2027 third-round pick, and Nolan Smith to Las Vegas. For the Eagles, it’s a “push the chips in” move. Their defense stayed stout in 2025, but pairing Crosby with Jalen Carter would create the most feared defensive front in the NFC. For the Raiders, it provides a reset button and a young, high-upside replacement in Smith.
Smith’s career has been a rollercoaster. He exploded in 2024 with 10.5 sacks between the regular season and a deep playoff run, looking like the next great Philly pass rusher. However, a torn triceps limited him to just 11 games and 3 sacks in 2025. A fresh start in the silver and black could be exactly what the former Georgia standout needs to regain his Pro Bowl form.
“Vegas doesn’t appear to be close to seriously contending. Crosby turns 29 in August. He wants to win, ideally sooner rather than later. That might happen in Vegas, but by the time it does, Crosby could be well past his peak.”
— Bill Barnwell, ESPN Senior Writer
Playoff Implications / What’s Next
If Howie Roseman pulls the trigger on this deal, the Eagles immediately become the favorites to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. They aren’t just looking for a contributor; they are looking for a closer. Crosby has proven he can take over a game single-handedly, a trait that is worth its weight in gold during the postseason.
For the Raiders, the decision rests on their confidence in the Kirk Cousins experiment. If the front office believes they are a playoff lock, trading Crosby is unthinkable. But if they see themselves as a year or two away, taking the draft capital and a 25-year-old Smith is the disciplined move. With the draft in Pittsburgh just over two weeks away, expect the phones in the Vegas war room to keep ringing. The tension in the building is palpable—fans remember the sting of the collapsed Ravens deal, and another “almost” trade might be more than the local faithful can stomach.
