Now that the Las Vegas Raiders know who their head coach is going to be, they can start to figure out what to do with star defensive end Maxx Crosby. He wasn’t happy with how the season ended, which has led to plenty of speculation that he could be traded this offseason.
The Raiders are clearly a rebuilding team. Crosby has been vocal about wanting to play meaningful games. It might be another year or two before Las Vegas is really ready to compete.
That said, having Crosby on the roster makes winning quickly more possible. Former Raiders head coach Jon Gruden, who drafted Crosby, shared some strong thoughts about the idea of the defensive end getting traded.
“Yeah, if you are anyone, you make a play for Maxx Crosby,” Gruden said on “The Drive w/TKras.” “If you are the Raiders, you are one of the dumbest franchises in America if you let him out of there. He is under contract. He is the best player on the team. I think he is arguably the most impactful edge rusher in football. That is a winning edge that a defense has. It is a fourth-quarter pass rush.”
Gruden knows a thing or two about trading a star pass rusher for first-round picks when he dealt Khalil Mack to the Chicago Bears. In the long run, that didn’t work out for the Raiders, so that’s something they have to factor in before considering a Crosby trade.
Could Commanders Trade for Crosby?
If Crosby asks for a trade or the Raiders are willing to listen to offers, many teams around the NFL will be interested. He’s one of the best players in the NFL and still in his prime.
Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report believes the Washington Commanders could be a fit for Crosby.
“The Commanders pulled off one of the most high profile trades of the 2025 offseason. They were able to bring in Laremy Tunsil when franchise tackles rarely hit the trade market,” Ballentine wrote. “That move didn’t prevent them from a fall from the NFC Championship Game to 5-12 this season. But that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t take the risk on swinging another big trade.
“A healthy Jayden Daniels in 2026 could have Washington right back in contention. They also have the cap space to get aggressive in bringing on a big contract. That would enable them to chase big names like Maxx Crosby.”
Will Klint Kubiak Hiring Make Crosby Want to Stay?
Instead of having to settle for 74-year-old Pete Carroll like the Raiders did last offseason, they were able to land one of the top coaches in the cycle in Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak.
Landing a top coach could be enough to make Crosby want to stay in Las Vegas. Kubiak is going to be focused on the offense, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be heavily involved with his defensive players.
If Crosby likes Kubiak, it’s hard to imagine he’ll want to get traded. How they interact will be something to watch as the Raiders head into the offseason.
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