The 2025 season hasn’t just gone off the rails for the Las Vegas Raiders - it never really got on track to begin with.
There was real optimism heading into the year. The team brought in Pete Carroll to steady the ship as head coach, tapped into Chip Kelly’s offensive mind to run the offense, and handed the reins at quarterback to Geno Smith.
On paper, it looked like a bold reset. In reality, it’s been a disaster.
Now in Week 14, the Raiders sit at 2-10, Kelly’s already out of a job, and Smith has struggled mightily under center.
With the season slipping into irrelevance, attention is already turning to what comes next - and it could be a very active offseason in Vegas.
One name that’s starting to surface in trade chatter is Maxx Crosby. And while the idea of moving the face of your defense might seem drastic, there’s logic behind it.
Crosby is one of the NFL’s premier edge rushers, and he’s been the heartbeat of this Raiders defense for years. But as the team stares down yet another rebuild, the question becomes whether it makes sense to keep a high-priced veteran on a roster that’s clearly not ready to contend.
The Raiders have resisted trade inquiries for Crosby over the past two years - including at both the 2024 and 2025 trade deadlines - but the pressure may be mounting. If the team does make a coaching change again in 2026, Crosby would be playing under his fourth head coach in as many years. That kind of instability takes a toll, especially for a player who’s entering his eighth NFL season and has only tasted one winning campaign in silver and black.
Back in March, the Raiders doubled down on Crosby, handing him a three-year, $106.5 million extension. But that move came before the wheels came off this season. Now, with the team likely heading into another reset, trading Crosby could free up roughly $30 million in cap space - and potentially bring back a haul of draft picks or young talent.
And make no mistake: Crosby would have no shortage of suitors.
Despite the chaos around him, he’s been as dominant as ever in 2025. He’s played in all 12 games, racking up 59 tackles, eight sacks, and a staggering 23 tackles for loss. That kind of production puts him among the league’s elite, and the advanced metrics back it up - Pro Football Focus has him graded at 81.2 this season, ranking him 16th out of 112 qualified edge rushers.
You don’t just replace a player like Crosby. His motor, his leadership, and his relentless play style have made him a cornerstone in Vegas.
But with the franchise in flux and needs all over the roster, the front office may have to make some hard choices. Holding on to an aging star with a massive contract might not align with the long-term vision - especially if the offers start stacking up.
If the Raiders do decide to part ways with Crosby, it’ll mark the end of an era. But it could also be the move that finally kickstarts a true rebuild - one built not just on hope, but on assets and flexibility.