Maxx Crosby is still wearing silver and black, and for now that’s the part of this story that matters most to the Raiders. After a messy stretch in early March, including a failed physical that knocked a potential trade to the Baltimore Ravens off the table, Crosby remains in Las Vegas heading into the 2026 NFL season. From the outside, the relationship between player and team looks intact.
That could change fast if the Raiders stumble early in Klint Kubiak’s first season as head coach. If the losses pile up, the trade chatter around Crosby is going to come roaring back.
John Spytek, as the source material makes clear, should and will listen if offers start rolling in. And if a contender gets desperate for an edge rusher before the deadline, this situation could get loud again in a hurry.
There’s also the possibility, however remote, that Crosby’s patience would crack again if another year starts slipping away.
During a recent stop at Raiders training camp, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer spoke with Crosby, and a lot of what came out was familiar territory. Crosby repeated that he never truly wanted to leave Las Vegas. He also said Baltimore felt off to him the whole time he was there for the physical that ultimately killed the Ravens trade.
The more eyebrow-raising part was Crosby’s reaction to the Raiders’ free-agent activity.
"I couldn’t look at a TV without seeing, 'Raiders are having the best offseason,' signing these people," Crosby said. "I’m like, 'Why is this happening?'
My phone’s blowing up-Oh my God, now they want to sign players. And I’m laughing.
I’m like, Stop talking to me about that s---.”
He added, "I don’t do business. I’m not on the business side. I’m not on the third floor."
Nobody is expecting Crosby to have been buried in cap-sheet details or to have tracked the Raiders’ finances line by line. But the idea that he had no sense of where the team stood heading into the offseason strains belief a bit. He’s the face of the franchise, and it’s hard to imagine he wasn’t given at least a broad outline of the plan if he was asking for a trade after last season’s frustrations.
That’s why the “now they want to sign players” line lands the way it does. The Raiders have spent in free agency before during Crosby’s run, and while plenty of those moves have missed badly, the spending itself was never some hidden secret.
A new head coach was coming. The club had cap space.
The basic math was there for anyone paying attention.
So the real question isn’t whether Crosby knew the exact accounting. It’s whether he’s trying to make it sound like he had no clue the Raiders were positioned to add veteran talent this offseason. Based on the reporting here, that’s a tough sell.
The bigger issue, of course, is whether all that spending turns into wins. That part is still unknown.
But Crosby’s comments make one thing pretty clear: he wants everyone to believe the Raiders’ offseason surprised him. Raider Nation probably shouldn’t buy it.
In Other News...
Deven Thompkins Is Making A Real Raiders Roster Push
Deven Thompkins arrived in Las Vegas shortly before training camp as an undrafted player from the 2022 class, but he has spent the early portion of camp making a legitimate case to stick. The receiver has drawn positive reviews in practice, standing out in wideout drills and adding value as a return option on special teams, which gives him more than one way to carve out a role.
For a player trying to force his way onto a roster, that kind of versatility matters, and Thompkins has backed it up with a few eye-catching moments in camp sessions. He also comes into the building with familiarity around key people in the organization, which only adds to the sense that this is more than a long shot audition. If he keeps stacking those reps, the Raiders may have a tougher decision than expected when roster cuts arrive. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Camp Suddenly Has A New Quarterback Tension Point
Raiders camp picked up a fresh layer of intrigue this week as the quarterback room started to take shape and the coaching staff continued sorting out the rest of the roster around it. Kirk Cousins spoke about his place atop the depth chart, while head coach Klint Kubiak and cornerback Jermod McCoy offered a broader look at where things stand with roles, health and workload as the team keeps moving through camp.
The quarterback conversation matters because it can ripple well beyond one spot on the field, especially for a team still trying to settle its identity under a new set of decisions. McCoys return from a torn ACL is another piece worth watching, and the Raiders are still juggling how much to push him as the ramp-up continues. Elsewhere in the division, Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy was back at practice after a leave for personal matters, and Andy Reid was still praising Kahlil Bensons ability to move around up front. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders D Line Is Building An Identity Fans Will Notice Fast
The Raiders defensive line is starting to take on a feel that goes beyond scheme and individual talent. Coach Travis Smith said the group is being shaped around listening and communication, with an emphasis on players understanding not just their own jobs but how they fit into the room. Along the way, Smith pointed to Tonka Hemingways quiet effectiveness, Thomas Booker IVs versatility and the steady work of rookies Cian Slone and Keyron Crawford as examples of the kind of traits that are beginning to define the unit.
What makes that approach interesting is the way the veterans are being asked to help drive it from inside the locker room. Smith said the older players have a role in mentoring the younger linemen and helping build a player-led culture, which can matter just as much as anything happening on the practice field. For a defense that wants its front to set the tone, this is the kind of foundation that can show up quickly once the season starts, even before the biggest names grab the headlines. [Read more 🡒]