The Las Vegas Raiders are heading into 2026 with a fresh direction-but potentially without their biggest defensive star.
With Klint Kubiak expected to take over as head coach, the Raiders are looking to reshape their offense, likely building it around projected No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza. But while the future may be bright under center, there’s now serious doubt about whether Maxx Crosby will be part of that picture.
NFL insider Jay Glazer stirred the pot in a recent interview, suggesting Crosby is “done” with the organization. That’s not just smoke-that’s a potential five-alarm fire for Raider Nation. Glazer even hinted that landing Crosby in a trade would take “probably more than Micah [Parsons],” underscoring just how high the bar is set for any team looking to pry him away from Vegas.
Crosby’s Eye on the Motor City
If Crosby is truly ready to move on, one team sits at the top of his wish list: the Detroit Lions.
According to reports, if the Raiders decide to trade the 28-year-old edge rusher, the Lions are his clear-cut first choice. That connection makes a lot of sense.
Crosby is a Michigan native, and he hasn’t been shy about his admiration for what Dan Campbell has built in Detroit. Just last offseason, Crosby appeared on Good Morning Football and raved about the Lions’ culture and toughness-two traits that define both Campbell and Crosby himself.
The fit is almost too perfect. Detroit already boasts one of the league’s top young pass-rushers in Aidan Hutchinson.
Add Crosby to that mix, and suddenly you’re looking at a defensive front that could wreak havoc on any offense in the NFL. In a conference loaded with elite quarterbacks and explosive offenses, having a duo like Hutchinson and Crosby could be the game-changer that pushes the Lions from contender to favorite.
What Would It Take?
Here’s the catch: Crosby isn’t going to come cheap. He’s one of the most disruptive defensive players in the league, a relentless motor who sets the tone on every snap.
If the Raiders are even willing to entertain offers, it’s going to take more than a couple of first-round picks to get a deal done. We're talking blockbuster territory.
But for Detroit, this might be the kind of bold move that championship teams make. Their Super Bowl window is wide open, and adding Crosby could be the final piece to a title puzzle that’s been decades in the making.
The Bigger Picture in Vegas
For the Raiders, this would mark a seismic shift. Moving on from Crosby would mean saying goodbye to the heart of their defense, a captain, and arguably the face of the franchise. It would also signal a full-scale reset under Kubiak, with the team putting its chips on a young quarterback and a new offensive identity.
Whether that’s the right move depends on how confident the front office is in its long-term vision-and how willing it is to part with one of the league’s premier defenders to build around a new core.
One thing’s for sure: If Maxx Crosby’s days in silver and black are numbered, the ripple effects will be felt across the entire league. And in Detroit, the thought of Crosby in Honolulu blue has to be causing more than a few sleepless nights for NFC North offensive coordinators.