Why the Raiders Trading Maxx Crosby and a Haul of Picks for Joe Burrow Would Be a Massive Misstep
The Las Vegas Raiders are standing at a franchise crossroads. After years of half-measures-never fully committing to a rebuild, never fully pushing all their chips in-the team finally seems ready to hit the reset button. And frankly, it's overdue.
The 2025 season was a low point, no question. But sometimes, hitting rock bottom gives you the clarity to start building something real.
The Raiders now hold the No. 1 overall pick, have a new head coach coming in, and boast a war chest of draft capital. This is the kind of foundation that can change the trajectory of a franchise-if they don’t get in their own way.
That’s why the idea of trading Maxx Crosby and a historic haul of picks for Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow should raise every red flag imaginable.
The Rumored Trade Package
Let’s break down what’s reportedly being floated:
Bengals receive:
- DE Maxx Crosby
- 2026 No. 1 overall pick
- Two additional first-round picks
- Two second-round picks
- Three third-round picks
Raiders receive:
- QB Joe Burrow
It’s a blockbuster deal in name, but not in logic.
Joe Burrow: Elite, But Not Without Risk
There’s no denying Joe Burrow’s talent. When healthy, he’s one of the league’s most poised and productive quarterbacks.
He’s a franchise-changing player-on paper. But that’s the catch: Burrow hasn’t been able to stay on the field.
He’s suffered three major injuries and missed 16 games over the past two seasons. That’s not a trend you can ignore when considering giving up eight premium draft picks and your best defensive player.
Yes, the Raiders have been in quarterback limbo for what feels like forever. And yes, Burrow would be an immediate upgrade. But the cost here isn’t just steep-it’s franchise-altering in the wrong direction.
Maxx Crosby Is More Than a Star-He’s a Culture Setter
Crosby isn’t just a Pro Bowl pass rusher-he’s the heart and soul of this defense, and one of the few players who brings it every single snap, regardless of the scoreboard. If the Raiders do decide to move him, it better be for a package that sets them up for the next decade.
Two first-round picks? Maybe.
But sending him away along with the No. 1 overall pick and six more high-value selections? That’s not a rebuild-that’s a fire sale.
The Timeline Doesn’t Match
This is where things really fall apart. Trading for Burrow is a win-now move.
He turns 30 next season, and his prime window is right now-not three years down the road. But if you’re gutting your roster and giving up your next three drafts to get him, what kind of team are you surrounding him with?
Without Crosby and without any early draft picks for multiple years, the Raiders would be asking Burrow to drag a hollowed-out roster to contention. That’s not just unrealistic-it’s unfair to both the player and the franchise.
John Spytek and Tom Brady Have Preached Patience
New general manager John Spytek has made it clear: building through the draft is the plan. He values draft picks, understands the importance of depth, and knows that sustainable success doesn’t come from splashy trades-it comes from stacking good decisions year after year.
Tom Brady, now part of the ownership group, understands what it takes to build a championship culture. That doesn’t start with mortgaging your future for a quarterback whose health is a question mark and whose supporting cast would be nonexistent.
The Right Move: Stay the Course
This offseason is not about shortcuts. It’s about discipline. The Raiders have a rare opportunity to reset the roster with a top pick-potentially selecting their quarterback of the future-and surround him with cost-controlled talent over the next few seasons.
That’s how you build a contender. Not by giving away the farm for a player who doesn’t align with your timeline.
Could Burrow be a Raider someday? Sure, in some alternate universe.
Could Crosby be traded? Possibly, if the return is right.
But those two moves shouldn’t-and can’t-happen together. They represent two completely different directions: one toward a rebuild, the other toward a win-now gamble.
You can’t do both.
The Raiders have already paid the price for their past indecision. This is the time to commit-to a vision, to a process, to the long game. Trading away Crosby and the future for Burrow would be a step backward disguised as a bold move.
Stay the course, Las Vegas. You’ve come too far to blow it now.