LAS VEGAS — The Las Vegas Raiders are perfectly willing to blow up their roster, but they absolutely refuse to give away their best player for a discount. The Maxx Crosby trade market is officially open, and General Manager John Spytek has set an exorbitant asking price for the All-Pro edge rusher: multiple first-round draft picks and a premium starter.
Following a disastrous 3-14 campaign in 2025 that led to the immediate firing of head coach Pete Carroll, the franchise is staring down a total rebuild. Crosby, operating at the peak of his powers, finds himself caught in the crosshairs of a front office eager to stack draft capital ahead of the upcoming NFL Draft.
The Breaking Point: A Torn Meniscus and a Tanking Franchise
Tension between Crosby and the Raiders front office reached a boiling point late in the 2025 season. Despite suffering a torn meniscus in October, the defensive end pushed through the pain, racking up 10 sacks, 73 tackles, and a staggering 28 tackles for loss across 15 games. He refused to quit on a lost season.
The Raiders, however, had other plans. Management abruptly shut Crosby down for the final two weeks of the season, placing him on injured reserve. Sources close to the situation, including NFL insider Albert Breer, revealed that Crosby viewed the move as a blatant attempt to tank for the No. 1 overall pick—a pick the Raiders ultimately secured.
Adding fuel to the fire, reports indicate that Tom Brady’s trainer, Alex Guerrero, influenced the medical decisions surrounding Crosby’s recovery. Outside medical professionals told the 28-year-old he could play through the discomfort, creating a massive rift in trust between the player and the organization.
The Micah Parsons Benchmark
If a team wants to pull Crosby out of Las Vegas, they must look at the blueprint established just last summer. When the Dallas Cowboys shipped Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers in August 2025, they received two first-round picks (2026 and 2027) and Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark in return.
Spytek expects a nearly identical package. Teams like the Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, and New England Patriots are aggressively circling, but the Raiders hold significant leverage. Unlike Parsons, who forced a trade over a contract dispute, Crosby is locked in. He signed a three-year, $106.5 million extension in March 2025 and is under team control through 2029.
“Great Risk = Great Reward…. Got Work To Do. Reset & Reload Year 8 Will Be The Greatest Year Yet.”
— Maxx Crosby, via Instagram, following his successful January meniscus surgery
Playoff Implications / What’s Next
The Raiders hold the cards, and the clock is ticking toward the start of the new league year. Las Vegas is widely expected to use the No. 1 overall pick on standout quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Securing two additional first-round picks for Crosby would arm Spytek and minority owner Tom Brady with an absurd amount of ammunition to surround their new rookie signal-caller with immediate talent.
For contenders eyeing a Super Bowl run in 2026, acquiring Crosby instantly shifts the balance of power in the AFC. He is a one-man wrecking crew who guarantees double-digit sacks and relentless pressure. If a general manager is willing to swallow the massive draft-day cost, a blockbuster deal could happen within the week.
