If Maxx Crosby becomes available, expect the phones to light up across NFL front offices - and not just a few. According to league insiders, interest in the Las Vegas Raiders’ star edge rusher could stretch to 20 teams, with contenders like the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions, and Baltimore Ravens reportedly keeping close tabs on the situation.
Crosby is, simply put, a game-changer off the edge. He’s one of the league’s most relentless pass rushers, a tone-setter who brings intensity on every snap. And with the Raiders still in the early stages of a rebuild, it’s not hard to see why playoff-caliber teams might be circling.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler mentioned that the trade interest in Crosby is “incredibly robust,” with natural fits including the Bills, Lions, 49ers, Cowboys, and Ravens. That’s not a surprise - all five are legitimate contenders looking for that missing piece to put them over the top, and Crosby fits the bill.
He’s not just a pass rusher; he’s a culture guy. The kind of player who can tilt the field and the locker room.
Now, there’s been some mixed messaging around Crosby’s future in Vegas. FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer has gone so far as to say he doesn’t see Crosby playing another down for the Raiders.
On the flip side, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport has reported that Crosby is “in a great place” with the team and hasn’t requested a trade. So, what gives?
Here’s the thing: Crosby has been vocal in the past about his frustrations with the organization - mainly around the team’s lack of stability and consistent losing. And after being shut down early last season, there’s a sense that those frustrations may be bubbling back up. Whether or not he’s asked out, the situation is worth monitoring.
From a team fit perspective, the Ravens, Lions, and Bills each make sense in their own way.
Start with the Lions. They’ve built a strong foundation through the draft and have a rising star in Aidan Hutchinson, but they could use another impact player on the opposite side to truly unlock that front.
The question is whether GM Brad Holmes is ready to go all-in. Historically, he’s been conservative with big-money moves, preferring to invest in Detroit’s homegrown talent.
But with the team’s Super Bowl window beginning to narrow after a disappointing 2025 season, the pressure to make a splash could finally push Holmes to pivot.
Then there’s Baltimore. The Ravens are in arguably the best position to make a move.
They’ve got the cap flexibility - currently sitting on $22 million in space - and could open up even more room depending on how they structure a potential Lamar Jackson extension. That kind of financial breathing room gives them a leg up, especially when compared to a team like Buffalo, which is currently $7.4 million over the cap.
Still, don’t count the Bills out. Even with their cap challenges, Buffalo’s front office has shown a willingness to get creative when it comes to adding elite talent. And with Von Miller aging and Gregory Rousseau still developing, bringing in a force like Crosby could be the kind of move that reinvigorates their pass rush and helps them finally get over the playoff hump.
All three teams have the draft capital to make a deal happen, though Baltimore does have a slight edge in that department as well. Whether that ends up mattering depends on how aggressive each front office is willing to be.
Bottom line: if the Raiders decide to listen to offers, Maxx Crosby will have no shortage of suitors. He’s the kind of player who can change a defense - and maybe even a season.