During the first week of NFL free agency, the New England Patriots added edge rusher Dre’Mont Jones with the hope of upgrading the unit. But one of the biggest edge upgrades the Patriots could make this spring is still on the table — Maxx Crosby.
With his return to the Las Vegas Raiders, speculation is heating up again about the possibility of Crosby landing in New England. On Wednesday, Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay named five new Crosby trade proposals, one which involved the Patriots.
But there’s no guarantee the edge rusher will be on the move. Crosby delivered a strong, positive message about his return to Las Vegas late Wednesday night.
“Everything happens for a reason,” Crosby wrote on X. “Believe nothing you hear & half of what you see.
“I’m a Raider. I’m back. Run that [expletive].”
Maxx Crosby Returning to Raiders
Anything can happen in the NFL offseason. That became clear when the Baltimore Ravens revoked the trade to get Crosby from the Raiders.
But based on message, a lot of pundits expect Crosby to stay in Las Vegas.
If the Ravens had backed out of the trade over the weekend or even Monday, other teams probably would have lined up with their previous trade offers for the edge rusher. But since it came Tuesday night, a lot of potential suitors had already moved on.
Therefore, the parameters of previous offers aren’t necessarily in place.
Pundits wondered if the Raiders could have an issue fitting Crosby back on their salary cap. That could force Las Vegas to offload the edge rusher for pennies on the dollar.
But that doesn’t appear to be an issue. If the Raiders hold out on getting Baltimore’s offer from another team, Crosby will likely have to wait awhile for another trade.
That’s all possible, though, because the edge rusher, at least publicly, is embracing his return to Vegas.
Crosby received tremendous praise late Wednesday and early Thursday for his positive message.
“I have an endless amount of respect for Maxx Crosby,” wrote NFL insider Jordan Schultz on X. “Who left Vegas with nothing but total class!
“And now, he posts an awesome message for the Nation.”
Could Patriots Target Crosby in New Trade?
Although Crosby’s message should slow the rumor mill, it has little chance of doing that.
Kay proposed the Patriots could offer the Raiders a boat load of draft selections — four — in a new attempt to land Crosby. One of the selections Kay included in the pitch was the No. 31 overall pick.
The other three were a Day 2 choice and two Day 3 picks — No. 95 overall in the third round and Nos. 198 and 202 overall in the sixth.
While the Patriots signed Jones in free agency, they lost edge rusher K’Lavon Chaisson to the Washington Commanders. New England landing Crosby would be a move to truly take the team’s defense to the next level.
“A healthy Crosby would be a menace in head coach Mike Vrabel’s defensive system,” Kay wrote. “The Patriots already rated top-10 in total and No. 4 in scoring defense during the 2025 campaign.
“The unit could make a significant leap in 2026 with Crosby terrorizing opposing quarterbacks.”
However, a Patriots-Crosby trade has another obstacle. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported a source close to the edge rusher’s trade told him there was “no way Tom [Brady] was sending Maxx to [Mike] Vrabel.”
No other details about why were included. But it’s important to note because the source made it seem as though no Patriots trade offer to Vegas will get Crosby to New England.
Kay argued, though, that the Raiders might have no choice if they continue to pursue a deal.
“That report leaked out prior to Vegas’ trade with Baltimore falling through, however, and things have changed drastically in the days since,” Kay wrote. “The Raiders have now lost most of their leverage, making it foolish to dismiss New England’s offer out of pocket if it’s the best one on the table following the failed physical.”
Kay may have hit the nail on the head on why the Raiders aren’t going to quickly trade Crosby again. They have to recreate the leverage, at least some of it, they had last week.
Until then, as the edge rusher said it, Crosby is a member of the Raiders.
Maxx Crosby Gets Candid on Nullified Trade Amid Patriots Rumors