Tuesday, Maxx Crosby’s name was tossed into the NFL rumor mill when veteran NFL observer Trey Wingo reported the Dallas Cowboys have inquired to the Las Vegas Raiders about the superstar pass-rusher’s
availability in preparation of the November 4 trade deadline.
The report wasn’t shocking at all. Crosby is a great player on a bad team. Surely, the Cowboys aren’t going to be the only team to call Henderson about Crosby in the coming days.
Outside interest in Crosby, though, doesn’t matter. All that matters is if the Raiders will entertain the trade proposals.
The Raiders are 2-5 and in the midst of yet another lackluster, lost season. Still, it would be pretty shocking if the Raiders were to decide to completely reset and trade one of their best players in their recent history.
While anything is possible, I’d expect Crosby to stay put. In fact, Tuesday night, NFL Media reported that the team met with Crosby and told him he isn’t going anywhere and that Crosby wants to stay.
That all makes sense.
However, the offseason could be a different story especially if Pete Carroll’s status unravels.
The Raiders do not want to start over at the head-coach position once again (Crosby has had five head coaches since joining the team in 2019). But if this season completely unravels, Las Vegas will have to consider what to do with Carroll. He was supposed to bring veteran stability.
It hasn’t happened. If the Raiders win just a handful of games, and not show any real progress, what would be the purpose of brining back Carroll to coach when he will be 75?
Crosby has grumbled about the losing and the instability. I thought to myself that Crosby would likely ask to be traded if the Raiders weren’t a solid playoff contender by the end of Carroll’s tenure. I was thinking more like that being three seasons not one.
But Crosby on the record saying he don’t want to keep starting over. He wants to win now.
So, if it gets to the point where Carroll is replaced in January, Crosby could potentially ask out. Then, the Raiders would have a big decision to make because he could fetch multiple first-round picks (if not, likely a first and a second or third). Those extra picks could go a long way to drafting a quarterback and help push a rebuild. Yes, it would be ideal to rebuild with Crosby. But he’s been in a never-ending rebuild and may not be up for it.
So, yes, there could be a day where the Raiders do entertain trade talks for their best defensive player even though it is not coming this year.
