Various reports las week indicated the possibility that the Las Vegas Raiders and superstar pass rusher Maxx Crosby could be heading towards a separation this off-season after Crosby was shut down for
the remainder of the season leading to frustrations.
Head coach Pete Carrol indicated the plan for Crosby to leave the facility was mutual, though the report can only really come at face value with a lot more likely unfolding behind the scenes. The Raiders signed Crosby to a 3 year, 106.5 million extension back in March of 2025 which tied Crosby to the Raiders until 2030. The now 28 year old would be 33 when he is set to hit the open market.
Crosby’s contract features a 35.8 million cap hit in 2026, 29.7 million in 2027, 27.2 million in 2028, and 28.2 million in 2029 making it a very feasible contract for top contending teams to add, or the Raiders to build around. Crosby holds just a 5.1 million dead cap hit in 2026 with 30.7 million in free cap space if traded between the 1st and 3rd day of the league year in 2026, as his 30 million salary fully guarantees on March 17th making it nearly impossible to trade him without a 30 million or higher dead cap hit. Crosby has no guaranteed money in 2027, 2028, or 2029 and that will likely need to be addressed this off-season or by his new team in the near future as NFL players, especially one’s of Crosby’s caliber, do not play with limited to no guaranteed money in their contracts especially on age 30 and older seasons.
The Raiders sit 2-13 and have a projected 111 million in cap space for the 2026 off-season, trading Crosby isn’t indictive of the Raiders financial struggles but simply their different paths for a rebuild. The Raiders lack talent at pretty much every position and could be 2-3 years away from being truly competitive as a franchise, which would set Crosby up to be in his age 31 season. Crosby has dealt with injuries recently including multiple knee issues in the last three seasons and as a result Crosby has a career low in pressure rate and pass rush win rate this season, though his marks in run defense have increased. Crosby’s pressure rate and pass rush win rate have declined in the last few seasons though injuries, defensive personnel, and other factors could be in play as he’s just 28 years old and still likely into the prime of his career. Crosby naturally will need to decrease the time he plays each season, as his 100% snap counts likely aren’t sustainable going forward into his 29 and older seasons, especially with back to back seasons being hampered by a knee injury. The Raiders don’t necessarily need to trade Crosby and retaining a top 20 player in the NFL is usually the smart choice, the question comes if Crosby wants to remain in Las Vegas and if the Raiders think he’s more valuable than a possible return package.
That possible return is a rough market to evaluate, when the Raiders traded superstar pass rusher Khalil Mack to the Bears, Mack was just 27 years old and returned the Raiders 2 first rounders, a third, and sixth round pick in exchange for Mack and a second round selection. The trade was viewed as an overpay by the Raiders having to give up a 2nd round selection on top of the multiple time All-Pro pass rusher. In August superstar pass rusher Micah Parsons was shipped to the Packers for 2 first round selections, and DT Kenny Clark who is valued as a 4th round player. Parsons, just 26 is going to net higher return than Crosby would and the same likely goes for Mack as well. In November, the Jets shipped all-pro defensive tackle Quinnen Williams to the Cowboys for a first rounder, second rounder, and Mazi Smith (equivalent to a 6th round selection). Williams, 28, is a similar age and player to Crosby though positional value does play a small role between EDGE and DT. If the Raiders are to trade Crosby, the flat truth is they likely won’t be able to return two first round selections. With Crosby coming off two injuries on the same knee, declining metrics, and heading into his age 29 seasons which would be the oldest of these three comparable trades it’s unlikely they could return that package.
Nearly every team would be interested in bringing in Crosby, which would help the Raiders create a bidding war for him between teams looking to get over the hump into a super bowl window such as the Cowboys, Lions, Buccaneers, Seahawks, Patriots, Eagles, and Bears among others. Each team mentioned has a variety of packages they could offer, and the Raiders could explore adding a young player in return for Crosby as well as the draft capital which would be similar to recent trades, though Vegas likely would want the draft picks instead to capitalize on key positions young talent and age. The 2026 off-season features Jaelan Phillips and Trey Hendrickson as the top pass rush options, and Crosby would immediately become the best option. The Raiders could force a team to trade two first round picks, though the likely return and similar trade value to NFL trade values for draft picks and player values is followed: The Raiders would send Maxx Crosby in return for a 2026 first round pick, 2026 2nd round pick, 2027 2nd round pick, and 2027 5th round selection. The packaged return for the Raiders in 2026 would given them 2 firsts and second round selections, a third, and three fourth rounders for 8 picks inside the top 150 which can alter a franchise immediately. The Raiders would free 30 million in cap space, but open a clear need on the defensive line which would need to be addressed either through the additional 1st round selection and/or spending in free agency. The Raiders can retain Crosby and build around him as a core part of the franchise rebuild, and the hiring of a young HC and drafting a franchise QB can quickly alter the expectations, mentality, and mindset within a franchise.
