The Las Vegas Raiders are headed back to the drawing board after enduring another miserable 2025 campaign. The team’s decision to reunite head coach Pete Carroll with his former quarterback, Geno Smith, failed in spectacular fashion. That led to Carroll getting fired after just one season with the team, while Smith is almost certainly not going to be the Raiders’ starting quarterback come Week 1.
Elsewhere, Las Vegas also has a problem with superstar defensive end Maxx Crosby on its hands. After the team shut down Crosby early in an effort to improve their positioning atop the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, trade rumors have swirled around the All-Pro defender. And while he recently shot back at the notion he wants to get traded, NFL insider Dianna Russini recently doubled down on the reports indicating that Crosby would be open to landing with a new team.
Maxx Crosby Reportedly ‘Highly Interested’ in Offseason Trade
Crosby remains under contract, but there’s a strong sense in league circles that he could be had in a trade.
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A fourth-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, Crosby has quickly turned himself into one of the most relentless defensive linemen in the league. Crosby has earned five straight Pro Bowl selections for the Raiders, while also landing on the All-Pro Second team in 2021 and 2023. At his best, he’s one of the top defenders in the league.
Las Vegas’ awful 2025 campaign took its toll on Crosby, even though his numbers won’t show it. In 15 games, Crosby racked up 73 tackles (28 of which went for a loss), 10 sacks, one interception, six pass deflections, and two fumbles forced. With the Raiders rarely being competitive, though, Crosby’s production went to waste, and it’s clear that he is not a fan of losing.
The team’s decision to hold Crosby out for its final two games of the year did not sit well with him, and ever since then, reports have swirled indicating that he could be open to getting traded elsewhere this offseason as a new regime takes over Las Vegas. Publicly, Crosby has remained committed to the Raiders, but according to Russini, behind the scenes, it’s a completely different story.
“Maxx Crosby isn’t coming right out and saying it, but … the Las Vegas Raiders’ star edge rusher would be highly interested in pursuing a change of scenery,” Russini wrote for The Athletic. “Crosby remains under contract, but there’s a strong sense in league circles that he could be there for the taking, despite the Raiders likely demanding a high price (think a Micah Parsons-like package). Las Vegas is not expected to try to make Crosby stay if he truly wants out.”
Should the Raiders Trade Maxx Crosby?
GettyRaiders pass rusher Maxx Crosby.
Las Vegas finds itself in a tough spot with Crosby. Obviously, it isn’t going to go out of its way to move on from him, but with another rebuild on the horizon, it’s fair to wonder how much more losing Crosby can endure. Beyond that, could he be of more use to the team if he were used as trade bait to acquire a hefty package of draft picks?
The Raiders have some big decisions to make involving Crosby this offseason. They could attempt to mend their relationship with him, but it may be too little, too late. Considering the path Las Vegas appears to be headed down, holding onto Crosby doesn’t make a ton of sense, which is why this offseason may be the perfect time for the two sides to part ways.
Insider Fires Back at Raiders’ Maxx Crosby with New Trade Rumors