With the 2025 season winding down and both the Raiders and Giants sitting at 2-13, plenty of eyes are locked on Sunday’s matchup-not for playoff implications, but for what it could mean at the top of the 2026 NFL Draft. But don’t tell Maxx Crosby that. The Raiders’ star defensive end made it crystal clear: he’s not suiting up for draft picks.
“Yeah, I don't give a sh*t about the pick. I don't play for that,” Crosby told reporters this week, a quote that’s already making the rounds on social media. And honestly, it’s vintage Maxx-raw, unfiltered, and all about the grind.
Crosby has long been the heartbeat of this Raiders defense, and even in a season that’s seen more lows than highs-including a nine-game skid and an early playoff exit-his intensity hasn’t wavered. He’s still bringing it every snap, still chasing quarterbacks like the game’s on the line, because for him, it always is.
This isn’t just about one player’s mindset, though. Crosby’s comments underscore a larger truth inside NFL locker rooms this time of year: while fans and analysts might be tracking draft boards and dreaming of franchise quarterbacks, the guys in pads are playing for pride, for each other, and for tape that speaks louder than any draft projection ever could.
The reality is, yes, this game could shift the top of the draft order. A loss might nudge one team closer to the No. 1 overall pick.
A win could push them out of that conversation entirely. But inside the Raiders’ building, that’s not the focus.
Not for Crosby, and not for a locker room that’s trying to build something tougher than a single season’s record-an identity.
For Las Vegas, Sunday isn’t about tanking or timelines. It’s about showing up, playing hard, and proving that even in a lost season, the standard doesn’t drop.
That’s the culture Crosby’s fighting for. That’s the tone he’s setting.
And if you’ve watched him play, you know he means every word.