In the whirlwind of the NFL offseason, trade rumors can sometimes stretch the bounds of reality, and that's exactly what we're seeing with the recent buzz around Las Vegas Raiders' star pass-rusher, Maxx Crosby. A proposal making the rounds suggests a swap with an AFC West rival, but let's break down why this doesn't add up.
Maxx Crosby isn't just a name on the roster; he's the kind of player who makes offensive coordinators lose sleep. His impact on the field is undeniable, and any team looking to acquire him would need to bring more than just a couple of mid-round picks to the table.
A second, a sixth, and a future fifth-round pick? That’s not even close to fair value for a player of Crosby's caliber.
The Raiders aren't in a position where they need to make desperate moves. With cap flexibility and draft capital, they have the tools to rebuild effectively around their top draft pick while keeping key players like Crosby. Trading him within the division would be a head-scratcher, especially when you consider they'd be facing him twice a year.
Crosby, at 29, is still very much in his prime and locked into a contract that the Raiders have no reason to shed. This isn't a case of offloading an expiring deal; it's about maintaining a defensive cornerstone as the team looks to the future.
Sure, it's fun to speculate, but this particular scenario seems more like a Chargers' dream than a balanced proposition. For the Raiders, the path forward is clear: keep Crosby, build around his talents, and let the rest of the division figure out how to handle their pass-rush problem.