Maxx Crosby Locked In on Greatness, Not Draft Picks, as Raiders Struggle Through Another Tough Season
Maxx Crosby isn’t here for the tank talk.
The Raiders’ star defensive end made that crystal clear this week when asked about the team’s position near the bottom of the standings. With Las Vegas sitting at 2-13 and staring down another offseason without playoff football, some fans have turned their attention to the potential silver lining: a shot at the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming draft. But for Crosby, that conversation doesn’t even register.
“I don’t give a s-t about the pick, to be honest,” Crosby said bluntly in the locker room. “I don’t play for that. That’s not my job.”
And he’s right. His job is to dominate - and he’s doing just that.
Crosby was named to his fifth consecutive Pro Bowl this week, a testament to the respect he’s earned from fans, players, and coaches alike. That kind of recognition doesn’t come easy, especially on a team that’s struggled to stay competitive. Still, Crosby continues to play with a relentless edge, and his Pro Bowl nod is just the latest reminder that he’s one of the league’s premier defensive forces.
“It means a lot,” Crosby said of the honor. “It just makes me hungrier.”
That hunger is evident every Sunday. Whether the Raiders are in the playoff hunt or buried at the bottom of the standings, Crosby brings the same fire.
He’s not just chasing sacks - he’s chasing legacy. And he’s doing it with a chip on his shoulder and a motor that never quits.
“My job is to be the best defensive end in the world,” he said. “That’s what I focus on every day - being a great leader, being an influence, and being that guy on a consistent basis for my team.”
It’s that mindset that separates Crosby from the pack. While others might be tempted to coast through the final weeks of a lost season, Crosby is still out there wrecking games.
He knows he can’t control the front office, the draft order, or the quarterback situation. What he can control is how he shows up - and he’s showing up like a man possessed.
The Raiders, meanwhile, are heading toward their fourth straight season without a playoff berth - and the sixth time in Crosby’s seven years. It’s a frustrating reality for a player who’s consistently performed at an elite level, even as the team around him has failed to keep pace.
There’s no denying the potential upside of a high draft pick. A franchise quarterback could finally give Crosby and the Raiders a shot at meaningful football in December and January.
But don’t expect him to start rooting for losses. That’s not how he’s wired.
“I’ve learned my lesson in the past,” he said. “You can’t control everything.
That’s not my job description. My job is to be the best in the world at what I do.
And that’s wrecking the game.”
And wreck the game he does - week in and week out, regardless of record or playoff implications.
For Raiders fans, it’s easy to look ahead and dream about what a top pick could bring. But for Maxx Crosby, the mission hasn’t changed.
He’s not playing for draft position. He’s playing for greatness.