If Maxx Crosby ends up on the trade block this offseason, don’t be surprised if the Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots, and Buffalo Bills are among the first teams to pick up the phone. All three franchises are in the market for a game-wrecking edge rusher, and Crosby-when healthy-is exactly that.
Now, let’s be clear: there’s no guarantee Crosby is even available. But the conversation picked up steam after FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer said he believes Crosby has played his final down for the Raiders. That’s a bold claim, and it certainly turned heads around the league.
But then came a counterpoint from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, who poured some cold water on the trade buzz. According to Rapoport, Crosby hasn’t requested a trade and is actually “in a great place” with the Raiders, despite some frustration over being shut down for the final two games of the 2025 season.
That’s a key detail-Crosby’s competitive fire is well-documented, so it’s no shock he wasn’t thrilled about being sidelined. But frustration doesn't equal a trade demand.
So what does that mean for teams like Buffalo, Dallas, and New England? Well, for now, it means patience.
And that’s going to be tough, because Crosby’s not just any edge rusher. He’s a five-time Pro Bowler, a relentless motor on the field, and a tone-setter in the locker room.
If he were to become available, it would be one of the most significant defensive trades in recent memory.
But there’s another wrinkle here-Crosby’s health. According to Rapoport, the Raiders star underwent a full meniscus repair in early January.
That’s not your typical clean-up procedure. It’s a more involved surgery that comes with a longer recovery timeline-three to four months, potentially.
That’s important because it means teams won’t be able to get a clear read on his physical status until well into the offseason.
And that could delay everything.
If Crosby does become available, a trade likely wouldn’t happen before free agency opens in March. Instead, we could be looking at a deal closer to the 2026 NFL Draft-or even right before the season kicks off. That’s a long time to wait for teams that need pass-rushing help now.
Rapoport clarified that Crosby’s surgery wasn’t a simple meniscus trim (which usually comes with a 4-6 week recovery). It was a full repair, performed on January 7, meaning we’re talking about months, not weeks.
The silver lining? Crosby’s recovery timeline is expected to be on the shorter end of that range.
Still, it’s enough of a delay to complicate any trade discussions.
And here’s where the risk comes in: teams that hold off on signing other edge rushers in free agency while waiting on Crosby could find themselves empty-handed. There’s no guarantee he becomes available. And even if he does, there’s no guarantee he ends up with them.
So for now, it’s a waiting game. The Raiders and Crosby are reportedly in a good place, and unless something changes, he may very well stay in Vegas. But if that relationship shifts, and if teams are comfortable with where he is in his rehab, the phones will be ringing-and fast.
Until then, the league’s pass-rusher market remains in a bit of a holding pattern, with one big name looming in the background.