INDIANAPOLIS — The A.J. Brown and Maxx Crosby trade rumors dominated the early chatter at the 2026 NFL Combine, but reality just hit the market like a blindside block. GMs arrived in Indy hunting for franchise-altering acquisitions. Instead, they found two organizations slamming the door shut. The Philadelphia Eagles and Las Vegas Raiders are demanding astronomical compensation, effectively freezing the mid-winter trade wire and sending receiver- and edge-needy teams into a scramble.
Walking the floors of the Indiana Convention Center this week, you could feel the tension radiating from front offices. Teams like the Patriots and Steelers called Philadelphia hoping for a discount after a turbulent 2025 season. Eagles General Manager Howie Roseman quickly corrected them. Sources indicate Philadelphia will not even pick up the phone unless the conversation starts with a premium first-round pick.
The math simply forces Philadelphia’s hand. If the Eagles trade Brown before June 1, they absorb a staggering $43.4 million in dead cap money. Moving him after June 1 drops that figure below $20 million, making a spring deal highly impractical. Furthermore, offensive coordinator Sean Mannion reportedly views Brown as an essential piece of his new scheme, aiming to rebuild the explosive chemistry between the star receiver and Jalen Hurts.
In Las Vegas, the situation mirrors Philadelphia. Speculation ran hot that defensive end Maxx Crosby wanted out to avoid another rebuild under new head coach Klint Kubiak. Raiders General Manager John Spytek effectively squashed that noise. Spytek made it clear that while he listens to every offer, moving a five-time Pro Bowler requires a historic return.
Interested teams are staring down a Micah Parsons-level asking price: two first-round picks and a starting-caliber player. Crosby just inked a massive contract extension last off-season featuring $91.5 million in guarantees. He continues to rehab his knee at the Raiders’ facility, maintaining a strong bond with owner Mark Davis. Las Vegas controls the board, and they refuse to fold their best hand.
“Will A.J. be here next season? I think we’re still in a spot, like, I can’t guarantee how anything is going to play out into next season. I’m thinking I’m going to be the coach next season, but you can’t guarantee anything past tomorrow.”
— Nick Sirianni, Head Coach, Philadelphia Eagles
“Maxx is an elite player, and I’ve been very upfront from the start when I got here that we’re in the business of having really good players on the team, and we need a lot more of them.”
— John Spytek, General Manager, Las Vegas Raiders
With Brown and Crosby effectively off the board, the entire AFC and NFC arms race shifts immediately. Teams missing out on Brown will flood the free-agent receiver market, driving up prices for secondary targets. Meanwhile, franchises desperate for defensive impact are pivoting to Chicago.
Bears linebacker Tremaine Edmunds is now the hottest name in the building. Chicago is actively gathering intel on his value, and teams like the Titans and Giants are circling. The draft boards will also see massive adjustments; organizations that planned to trade top-20 picks for established veterans must now rely on rookies to fill their glaring holes. Expect a chaotic frenzy when the legal tampering period opens, as teams realize the shortcuts to a Super Bowl ring just vanished.
