The Detroit Lions had plans to pursue edge rusher Maxx Crosby as a trade target, but another player’s legal troubles may have put a stop to it.
The Las Vegas Raiders are expected to shop Crosby, who reportedly grew discontent with the team when he was placed on injured reserve to end the season. The Lions have been identified as a top contender to land Crosby, but a new report suggests that the team hit an unexpected roadblock.
Terrion Arnold’s Legal Situation Complicates Offseason Plans
The Detroit Newsâ Nolan Bianchi reported that Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold was mentioned in a Florida court order related to the pretrial detention of Boakai Hilton. Police have accused Hilton of planning a kidnapping and robbery during a car ride where Arnold was present, with the plans allegedly in response to a pair of thefts at Arnold’s home.
SI.com’s John Maakaron reported that the situation put a halt to trade plans in Detroit as the Lions are not sure if they will now need the draft assets they would have used to land Crosby.
“League sources express the recent developments with cornerback Terrion Arnold will likely put a pause on Detroit’s willingness to part ways with early round picks, as the team may now need to use one on a cornerback in the not too distant future,” Maakaron wrote.
“Detroit’s entire coaching staff and front office were in agreement that adding Crosby would have been a move that would instantly put the team in serious contention to win the Super Bowl.”
The Raiders still have plans to keep Crosby. ESPN’s Ryan McFadden reported that Raiders general manager John Spytek saying he expects the star edge rusher to remain in Las Vegas for the 2026 season.
“I do,” Spytek said at this weeks’s NFL Scouting Combine when asked if he believed Crosby would stay. “… 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.”
But Spytek added that the Raiders would be willing to entertain offers, McFadden added, just as they would for the No. 1 overall pick.
“I learned a long time ago, always listen,” he said. “I’m always listening.”
Terrion Arnold Denies Wrongdoing
Arnold has denied any involvement in the incident, which led to the arrest of five people on felony charges. Timothy Jansen, an attorney representing the Lions cornerback, said Arnold was not involved in any way.
âTo be clear, Mr. Arnold had no involvement whatsoever in the activities that led to those arrests,â the attorney said in a statement. âHe did not participate in, nor was he present for, any conduct related to the alleged offenses. There is no evidence in police reports, text messages, or witness statements that implicates Mr. Arnold in any way.”
Arnold could still face punishment from the NFL, which has the ability to punish players even if they are not formally charged or convicted of crimes.
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