Maxx Crosby has never been one to fly under the radar. Since entering the league as a fourth-round pick in 2019, he's built himself into one of the NFL’s most relentless and productive pass rushers. Now, with his future in Las Vegas looking murky, the buzz surrounding Crosby is heating up - and it’s not just fans stirring the pot.
Veteran offensive tackle Terron Armstead threw fuel on the fire during a recent episode of his podcast, The Set with Terron Armstead, openly campaigning for the New Orleans Saints to make a move for the Raiders’ star edge rusher.
“Maxx Crosby is a monster,” Armstead said, leaving no doubt about how highly he regards the 26-year-old. “If you get an opportunity to bring him to your franchise, he is a game-changer.
And this is from experience. This is from studying this man and watching week after week him make plays.
It looks like 1 verse 11.”
It’s not often you hear a current player so emphatically advocate for a blockbuster trade, but Armstead didn’t stop there. He made the case that the Saints - or any team with a quarterback on a rookie deal - are in a prime position to make a bold move like this.
“You keep these draft picks all you want. Cool,” Armstead said.
“And then you can do a lot of great things with draft picks, but when you got a quarterback on his rookie deal... you have money to spend. And there's no better time than right now.
We trade for Maxx Crosby, we’re about to go win.”
That’s not just a hot take - it’s a calculated one. With a massive three-year, $106.5 million extension signed in March 2025, Crosby isn’t cheap. But players of his caliber rarely become available, and when they do, it’s often because something’s gone sideways behind the scenes.
And that’s exactly what seems to be happening in Vegas.
Late in the 2025 regular season, Crosby pushed to keep playing through a knee injury, wanting to finish the year on the field. The Raiders, however, made the call to shut him down ahead of Week 17, prioritizing his long-term health.
While that might sound like standard protocol, it reportedly didn’t sit well with Crosby - a guy known for his all-gas-no-brakes mentality. That decision created some tension between the player and the organization, casting doubt on whether his future still lies in silver and black.
Crosby eventually underwent surgery on the injured knee, and last week, he provided an update on his recovery. Speaking to reporters, he made it clear he’s attacking his rehab with the same intensity that’s made him one of the league’s most feared defenders.
“We’re doing everything right, checking every box,” Crosby said. “That’s what we’re going to do every single day, one at a time. Every time you go into rehab, it’s a different experience and a different journey.”
And in true Crosby fashion, he added: “I attack it like everything else. Everything happens for a reason.
I know I’m a little psychotic when it comes to the way I approach certain things, but that’s how you have to be if you want to be great. I’m willing to run that race.”
That mindset - the relentless, obsessive pursuit of greatness - is exactly what makes Crosby so valuable. He’s not just a stat-sheet stuffer; he’s a tone-setter, a culture-changer, and the kind of player who can tilt the field every time he lines up.
So, where does that leave things?
The fallout with the Raiders, combined with the timing of his injury and rehab, has made Crosby one of the most intriguing names to watch this offseason. Whether Las Vegas decides to recommit to their defensive cornerstone or entertain trade offers remains to be seen. But one thing’s clear: teams are watching closely - and some, like the Saints, may already be plotting their move.
If Crosby does end up in a new uniform next season, it won’t just be a headline - it could be a seismic shift in the NFL landscape.