The Raiders’ stance on Maxx Crosby hasn’t changed, but Thursday’s blockbuster for Jeffery Simmons may have nudged the market in a way Las Vegas can’t ignore.
The word around the league is still that the Raiders are open to moving Crosby - just not at a discount. The standing expectation has been that they won’t settle for less than what the Ravens were willing to offer in March.
That matters now more than ever after Chicago sent two first-round picks and a fourth-round pick to the Titans for Simmons, who is one month older than Crosby. Through the first seven games of the season, Simmons has put up better numbers than Crosby, but that doesn’t automatically make his trade value any stronger than Crosby’s - and probably not much stronger, if at all.
Adam Schefter and others have already noted that another offer like the Ravens’ two-first-round package may not be coming for Crosby. Still, the Simmons deal could reset how aggressive teams are willing to get.
“After talking to several NFL teams and GMs over the last hour, my expectation is the trade deadline will be even crazier than anticipated. Chicago’s all-in move will cause other teams to react and try to be bold as well,” Schultz tweeted on Thursday.
“In the words of one source: ‘All hell is going to break loose over the next week and a half. Get your popcorn ready.'”
That kind of move doesn’t just help Chicago. It also changes the temperature around the rest of the league. The Bears are clearly better after landing Simmons, and teams such as the 49ers, Cowboys and Vikings may now feel pressure to answer with something bold of their own.
For the Raiders, Sunday in New York could shape everything. If they beat the Jets, it gets a lot harder to imagine Crosby being moved. But if they walk out of MetLife Stadium at 3-5, with a road game against the 49ers up next, there’s a real chance Crosby is in a different uniform before the November 10 trade deadline.
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