Maxx Crosby’s Future in Vegas Murky as Lions’ Pass Rush Needs Grow
For Detroit Lions fans, this situation might feel all too familiar. The team is once again in the market for a high-impact pass rusher to line up opposite Aidan Hutchinson, and now, one of the league’s elite edge defenders-Maxx Crosby-is reportedly unhappy with his current situation in Las Vegas. Whether that opens the door for a blockbuster move remains to be seen, but the smoke around Crosby’s future is getting harder to ignore.
Crosby, a former standout at Eastern Michigan, has reportedly made it crystal clear to the Raiders brass-and even to minority owner and NFL legend Tom Brady-that he wants out. According to reports, Crosby went so far as to tell Brady directly that he would never play for the Raiders again, even threatening retirement before suiting up for them once more.
That’s a bold stance from one of the NFL’s most tenacious defenders. And it’s not just whispers.
An unnamed general manager, who reportedly has interest in acquiring Crosby, backed up the claim, stating, “That’s a fact. He told them he’ll retire before he ever plays for them again.”
Publicly, though, Crosby has tried to quiet the noise. During a Super Bowl week appearance on Don’t @ Me w/ Dan Dakich, he pushed back against the reports, insisting he’s still committed to the Raiders. But behind the scenes, frustration may be boiling over.
The root of Crosby’s discontent appears to stem from the way the Raiders handled the final stretch of their season. Despite believing he was healthy enough to play, Crosby was reportedly forced to sit out the team’s last two games-a decision that left him, in the words of one report, “livid.” The Raiders split those two games, going 1-1, and ultimately landed the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
After the season wrapped, Crosby underwent a minor meniscus repair procedure, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The good news for Crosby is that he’s ahead of schedule in his recovery. The bad news-for any team hoping to make a move early-is that he’s unlikely to be medically cleared when the new league year opens on March 11.
So, could a trade actually happen?
Recent history suggests we shouldn’t rush to conclusions. Just last offseason, we saw similar tension with pass rushers like Myles Garrett and Trey Hendrickson.
In both cases, the drama cooled, new deals were signed, and the players stayed put. That same script could easily play out here.
There’s also the financial side to consider. Crosby is carrying a massive $38.8 million cap hit for 2026, per Spotrac-a number that would be tough for a Lions team already navigating tight salary cap waters. His cap number does drop below $30 million for the remaining three years of his deal, which runs through 2029, but that initial hit is a major hurdle.
Unless Detroit is willing to get creative-perhaps by moving a contract like defensive tackle Alim McNeill’s in a swap-it’s hard to see how they could absorb Crosby’s deal without significant cap gymnastics.
Still, the fit is intriguing. Pairing Crosby with Hutchinson would give the Lions one of the most disruptive edge duos in the league. And after a 9-8 season that fell short of expectations, Detroit knows it needs more firepower on defense if it wants to take the next step toward a Super Bowl.
As long as the tension in Vegas lingers and the Lions remain in the market for a difference-maker up front, this is a storyline worth watching. Whether it’s real smoke or just offseason sizzle, Maxx Crosby’s situation is one that could shape the defensive landscape of the NFL in 2026.