Everything Maxx Crosby does this offseason has the potential to send the NFL world into an uproar. That’s even more the case since Crosby’s nullified Baltimore Ravens trade during the first week of NFL free agency.
Now under an even bigger microscope, Crosby ignited a frenzy on social media with a 1-word post on X Sunday night.
“BANG,” wrote Crosby with 11 capital G’s.
Optimistic fans reacted hoping the message was an indication of a trade coming for their favorite team. The single word left other social media users confused.
“He’s gonna drop the second BANG with a picture of him in a Niner jersey,” wrote one San Francisco 49ers fan.
“What does this mean Maxx Crosby?” another person wrote.
“Please elaborate???” another fan wrote.
Others playfully responded by asking Crosby to stop teasing them.
Crosby’s latest social media post could be particularly intriguing to New England Patriots fans. Pundits have often cited New England as a potential landing spot for Crosby this offseason.
Crosby registered 10 sacks with 28 tackles for loss and 20 quarterback hits last season. Behind that stat line, he made his fifth straight Pro Bowl.
Could Patriots Still Trade for Maxx Crosby?
After missing out on Crosby before the NFL’s legal tampering period, the Patriots turned their attention to edge rushers on the open market. New England signed veteran Dre’Mont Jones very early in NFL free agency.
Jones had a career-high seven sacks last season.
However, the Patriots lost fellow edge rusher K’Laveon Chaisson to the Washington Commanders in free agency. Chaisson was second for New England with 7.5 sacks.
That’s why even after signing Jones, pundits have still wondered if the Patriots could acquire Crosby. New England was tied for 22nd in the NFL with 35 sacks during 2025.
Crosby has averaged nearly 10 sacks per season over his entire career. He would boost the New England run defense as well and turn the defense for the reigning AFC champions into an even more formidable unit.
Without an edge rusher getting more than 8.5 sacks last season, the Patriots finished fourth in points allowed, eighth in yards yielded and ninth in pass defense.
When Could a Crosby Trade Happen?
Patriots fans are likely in for a full offseason of Crosby X updates and trade speculation. That’s because the latest update from NFL insider Albert Breer was that the Raiders won’t move the edge rusher until after the regular season starts.
“If he’s going to be traded, I think it’s going to have to come after Maxx Crosby gets back on the field and plays really well, so people will forget about everything that just happened,” Breer told Sports Illustrated’s Conor Orr on March 20.
“That way, it becomes a little easier when it comes to managing your owners and your fan base. It also makes it easier to go out and trade for him again.”
Patriots fans, though, can feel better about an earlier update from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
The ESPN insider reported on March 15 the edge rusher would likely stay put for the time being, but Fowler said a trade around the NFL Draft in April was possible.
An in-season trade isn’t ideal for the Patriots or any Crosby suitor. That would mean the Patriots beginning the season without Crosby on their roster.
If New England doesn’t land the Raiders edge rusher in a trade, pundits see the Patriots potentially signing a different edge rusher this summer. New England could also address the position in the draft.
Potential Patriots Trade Target Maxx Crosby Kindles Intrigue With 1-Word