The Green Bay Packers looked like a natural fit for Maxx Crosby heading toward the 2026 season, but that door may already be closing fast.
Crosby had been linked to Green Bay after the Las Vegas Raiders previously tried to trade the star defender. That move fell apart because of an odd situation with the Baltimore Ravens, with physical concerns cited as the reason the deal was canceled.
For a while, that seemed to leave room for the kind of headline pairing Packers fans could dream on: Crosby opposite Micah Parsons. Now, that idea looks unlikely for the time being.
The biggest reason is Las Vegas itself. The Raiders have opened 3-0 and have become one of the league’s biggest surprises. With a schedule that still includes winnable games and only a .500 finish the rest of the way needed to stay in real playoff range, there’s plenty of reason to think Crosby is no longer available.
And he’s not just along for the ride. Crosby has already posted 1.5 sacks and has been a steady force in the backfield for a Raiders team that keeps winning. The raw numbers don’t jump off the page, but his impact is obvious when you watch the tape.
For Green Bay, the shift means turning attention elsewhere, with Josh Sweat now standing out as a name to watch. The current Arizona Cardinal has been the subject of ongoing trade buzz, and a move to the Packers would reunite him with Green Bay defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon. Sweat had his best season under Gannon in the same role.
However it shakes out, the Packers are still in a spot where they need to keep looking for ways to get better. What once looked like a clear path to adding a top pass rusher has now been blocked by Las Vegas’ hot start.
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