The San Francisco 49ers’ season came to a crashing halt in Seattle, and not the kind that fades quietly into the offseason. After a gritty, injury-riddled campaign that still saw them claw their way to the No. 6 seed in the NFC, they handled business in the Wild Card round with a solid win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
But just a week later, the wheels fell off. A 41-6 blowout loss to the Seahawks in the Divisional Round sent the 49ers home in stunning fashion - a sobering end for a team that had battled through so much.
Now, with the dust settling, San Francisco is staring at another pivotal offseason. One of the biggest questions?
How to bolster a pass rush that missed its teeth without Nick Bosa, who went down with a torn ACL. Bosa’s injury history is no secret, and while he remains one of the most disruptive defensive forces in the league when healthy, the 49ers need more stability and firepower on the edge to keep their Super Bowl window open.
Enter Maxx Crosby.
The Raiders’ star pass rusher could be on the move, and his name is starting to circle around league circles as a potential blockbuster trade target. According to projections, it might take a first- and second-round pick to pry Crosby away from Las Vegas - a steep price, sure, but one that could make a real difference for a 49ers team that’s been knocking on the door.
Crosby’s resume speaks for itself. He’s been one of the league’s premier edge rushers, and his relentless motor and production have made him a cornerstone in Vegas.
But things got rocky late last season. After gutting it out through a knee injury, Crosby was ultimately shut down before the season’s end - a decision that didn’t sit well with him.
Reports say he stormed out of the team facility when informed he wouldn’t be finishing the year. That moment sparked the first real whispers of a potential trade.
Now, here’s where things get interesting. Crosby is under contract through 2029, but only $30 million of that is guaranteed - and that figure comes due in 2026. That structure gives any interested team some flexibility, but it also suggests an extension might be in play for whoever lands him.
At 29 years old heading into the 2026 season, Crosby isn’t quite in the same age bracket as Micah Parsons, who was traded to Green Bay last summer in a mega-deal that included two first-rounders and defensive tackle Kenny Clark. But Crosby’s impact on the field is right up there, and while the price tag might be slightly lower than what Dallas got for Parsons, it’s still going to require serious capital.
For San Francisco, the equation is simple: Is this the move that finally gets them over the hump? They’ve been close - painfully close - in recent years, but whether it’s been injuries, offensive inconsistencies, or defensive lapses, they haven’t been able to finish the job.
Adding a player like Crosby opposite Bosa could give them one of the most fearsome pass-rushing duos in the league. That kind of pressure changes games - and in the postseason, it can change legacies.
The 49ers have built a roster that’s ready to win now. If they believe Crosby is the missing piece, this is the kind of swing that could define their next chapter - one that, if it hits, might just end with a Lombardi Trophy in the Bay.