With the NFL coaching carousel finally slowing to a crawl, the Buffalo Bills are turning their attention to roster moves-and one name is lighting up the radar across Western New York: Maxx Crosby.
The star edge rusher out of Las Vegas has been on Bills fans’ wishlists for months, especially after signs of tension between Crosby and the Raiders organization surfaced late last season. Now, with Joe Brady officially at the helm and Jim Leonhard stepping in as defensive coordinator, the Bills are in a position to make some noise.
And Crosby? He’d be a game-changing addition.
Let’s be clear: Crosby isn’t just a fit for Buffalo’s scheme-he’s a fit for just about any scheme. He’s one of the most disruptive defensive players in the league, and his versatility makes him a plug-and-play weapon in any front. That’s part of what makes him such an appealing target for a Bills defense that’s looking to retool after another playoff heartbreak.
On Wednesday, NFL insider Jay Glazer dropped the kind of nugget that had Bills Mafia buzzing: he believes Crosby’s time in Las Vegas is “done.” According to Glazer, there’s a strong chance Crosby is dealt before the NFL Draft, and the market for him is already heating up.
Glazer even suggested that Crosby could command a return that rivals-or even exceeds-what Green Bay gave up for Micah Parsons. That’s a steep price, but for a five-time Pro Bowler with 69.5 career sacks, it’s not out of the question.
But just as quickly as hope surged in Buffalo, another report cast a shadow over the dream.
NFL insider Diana Russini appeared on Boston’s 98.5 The Sports Hub and added a twist that Bills fans won’t love: the New England Patriots are firmly in the mix. More specifically, Crosby reportedly wants to play for new Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel.
“Maxx Crosby doesn’t seem too happy in Las Vegas,” Russini said. “I know he wants to play for Mike Vrabel. He’s told me before.”
That’s a problem. If Crosby is pushing for a move to New England-and if the Patriots are willing to meet the Raiders’ asking price-Buffalo could be staring down the barrel of a worst-case scenario: one of the league’s most dominant pass rushers lining up in the AFC East, not in Bills blue, but in Patriots silver and navy, hunting Josh Allen twice a year.
According to Glazer, roughly 20 teams have already reached out to assess Crosby’s availability. That’s a massive market, and it suggests the Raiders will have the luxury of choosing the best offer-whether that’s based on compensation, Crosby’s preference, or both.
And make no mistake: Crosby’s preference matters. Players of his caliber, especially those under long-term contracts, don’t always get to pick their next destination-but their voices carry weight. If he’s vocal about wanting to reunite with Vrabel, that could give New England a leg up.
For the Bills, that puts GM Brandon Beane in a tough spot. On one hand, going all-in for Crosby could give Buffalo the elite edge presence it’s lacked in recent years. On the other, if the Patriots are truly the frontrunner, Beane may at least want to drive up the price-make it painful for New England to get their man.
Of course, the ideal outcome for Buffalo is landing Crosby themselves. But if that’s not in the cards, keeping him out of the division becomes priority number two.
Because wherever he goes, Crosby’s going to keep producing. He’s a relentless motor with elite bend, power, and instincts-and no one in Western New York wants to see that unleashed on Josh Allen multiple times a season.
The Bills are in a pivotal offseason. With a new offensive vision under Brady and a fresh defensive mind in Leonhard, the pieces are shifting. Whether Crosby becomes part of that puzzle-or a problem they’ll have to solve-could shape the AFC East for years to come.