The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have made it clear: they need help getting after the quarterback. And now, there's a flicker of hope that one of the league’s premier pass rushers might be inching closer to becoming available.
According to a report from Jason La Canfora, Maxx Crosby has reportedly told Tom Brady-now a minority owner with the Las Vegas Raiders-that he doesn’t plan on returning to Vegas in 2026. The report, which surfaced via an unnamed general manager, has already sent ripples through the league. And for good reason.
Crosby has been nothing short of dominant since entering the NFL. Bursting onto the scene in 2019 with a 10-sack rookie campaign, the 28-year-old has averaged 10.7 sacks per season across seven years. That level of consistency and disruption off the edge has made him a foundational piece of the Raiders defense and one of the most feared edge rushers of his era.
For a team like Tampa Bay, who’s looking to reignite a once-potent pass rush, Crosby represents the kind of game-changer that could shift the entire identity of their defense. But there’s a catch-and it’s a big one.
Crosby isn’t a free agent. In fact, he’s locked into a massive three-year, $106 million extension that runs through the 2029 season.
That’s not the kind of deal a player simply walks away from. So if he’s truly ready to move on from Vegas, it would almost certainly require a trade-and a hefty one at that.
Still, for the Bucs, even the faintest chance of landing Crosby is worth monitoring. Their pass rush took a notable step back in 2025, finishing 19th in sacks per game. That’s a steep drop-off for a unit that had been a top-12 sack producer for six straight seasons.
Injuries and regression played a big role. Logan Hall, who had shown promise the year before, failed to build on his momentum.
Calijah Kancey, another key piece up front, battled injuries and couldn’t stay on the field. Between the two of them, Tampa Bay lost 11.5 sacks worth of production-a hit their defense couldn’t recover from.
That’s where a player like Crosby could completely change the equation. He’s not just a sack artist; he’s a tone-setter. His motor, leadership, and ability to wreck a game plan would instantly elevate the Bucs’ front seven and take pressure off the secondary.
But even if Crosby has made it known he wants out, that doesn’t guarantee anything. Just last year, Myles Garrett reportedly requested a trade out of Cleveland.
Not only did that not happen, but Garrett went on to win Defensive Player of the Year and set a new single-season sack record. In this league, trade requests don’t always translate into movement-especially when elite pass rushers are involved.
And if the Raiders do entertain offers for Crosby, it won’t come cheap. Think back to the Sauce Gardner trade at the deadline-massive package, big risk, big reward. That’s the kind of deal we’re talking about here.
So yes, it’s still a long shot. But for Tampa Bay, it’s a shot worth dreaming on.
If General Manager Jason Licht somehow pulls off the impossible, Crosby’s No. 98 jersey would become an instant best-seller in Tampa. And for a fanbase hungry to return to defensive dominance, it would feel like a long-awaited return to form.
The road to landing Crosby is full of obstacles. But for now, Bucs fans can enjoy the possibility that, just maybe, the missing piece to their pass rush puzzle is one step closer to becoming a reality.