If the Las Vegas Raiders decide to put Maxx Crosby on the trade block, expect the phone lines to light up across the league. Crosby isn’t just any edge rusher-he’s a five-time Pro Bowler, a relentless force off the edge, and the kind of game-wrecker every contender dreams of adding to their defensive front. And thanks to the way his contract was structured by Raiders GM John Spytek, trading for him wouldn’t be as cap-prohibitive as you might expect for a player of his caliber.
But here’s the catch: Crosby’s relationship with the Raiders appears to be fraying, and while that might open the door for a blockbuster deal, not every team being floated as a potential landing spot makes sense-especially when you start crunching the numbers.
Enter the Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys, and Chicago Bears.
These three teams have been at the center of the Crosby trade chatter, and on the surface, there are some dots to connect. Crosby was born in Michigan and raised in Texas, which naturally ties him to both the Lions and Cowboys in fans’ minds.
As for the Bears? Well, some fans are still chasing the high from the Khalil Mack trade and dreaming of a similar defensive splash.
But let’s zero in on Detroit for a moment, because that’s where things get interesting.
Aidan Hutchinson weighs in-and brings some realism to the hype
During Super Bowl week, Lions star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson joined Up & Adams and didn’t shy away from the Crosby rumors. He acknowledged the buzz, admitted he and Crosby have a strong mutual respect, and even said he’d love to play alongside him. But then he did something not many do in February: he brought a dose of financial reality to the table.
“It just sounds right,” Hutchinson said. “In the event that it did happen, that would be so dangerous.
And me and Maxx have a great relationship; I’d love to play with him. ... We both have a lot of respect for each other’s games.
Do I think the likelihood of him coming to Detroit is high? No.
Just given the amount of guys that they have to pay in the building that are already there.”
Translation: as fun as it is to picture Crosby and Hutchinson terrorizing quarterbacks together in Dan Campbell’s aggressive defense, Detroit has other financial priorities. They’ve built a strong young core, and several key players are due for extensions. Bringing in Crosby would mean either clearing major cap space or restructuring deals-which is doable, but not easy.
The dream vs. the dollars
Look, any fan base in the league would love to plug Crosby into their defense. He’s a tone-setter, a leader, and a nightmare for offensive coordinators.
But acquiring him isn’t as simple as sending over a few draft picks. His contract, while absorbable, still carries weight.
And unless the Raiders restructure it to front-load a signing bonus and make the first year more cap-friendly, any team trading for him needs to be ready for a significant financial commitment.
Could Vegas do that to sweeten the pot? Sure.
But that also means the acquiring team has to be in true win-now mode-ready to cash in on a Super Bowl window immediately. For some teams, that’s a no-brainer.
For others, like the Lions, who are still building toward sustained success, it’s not so clear-cut.
Amon-Ra St. Brown joins the chorus-but Hutchinson stays grounded
Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown also appeared on Up & Adams and echoed the excitement.
He called the idea of a Crosby-Hutchinson duo “ferocious” and even hinted he might try to do a little recruiting behind the scenes. And honestly, who wouldn’t?
But Hutchinson’s response is telling. He knows Crosby has expressed interest in Detroit before.
He knows how good the fit could be on paper. But he also knows that trades don’t happen in a vacuum.
There’s a cap to manage, a roster to balance, and long-term planning to consider.
So, what’s next for Crosby and the Raiders?
None of this rules out a trade. If Crosby is truly available, there will be a long line of suitors.
Teams with cap space, a glaring need on the edge, and a belief that they’re one piece away will absolutely be in the mix. But Detroit, despite the buzz, might not be the most practical destination-at least not right now.
That doesn’t mean the Lions wouldn’t love to have him. It just means they may not be able to make it work without sacrificing key pieces of the foundation they’ve worked so hard to build.
Bottom line: Maxx Crosby could be the crown jewel of the offseason if he hits the trade market. But as Aidan Hutchinson reminded us, dreaming big is great-just don’t forget to check the cap sheet.