Maxx Crosby isn't one to mince words, and on the latest episode of The Rush With Maxx Crosby, the Raiders’ All-Pro edge rusher offered up some candid thoughts on the New England Patriots - particularly their handling of left tackle Will Campbell following a rocky postseason showing.
Let’s set the stage: New England just came off a Super Bowl LX loss to the Seattle Seahawks, and one of the more glaring issues was the play on the offensive line. Campbell, the No. 4 overall pick in last year’s draft, had a postseason to forget. But Crosby, who knows a thing or two about trench warfare, isn’t ready to throw in the towel on the young tackle.
“I don’t think you panic and move him right away,” Crosby said. “I think there are some technical things he needs to work on. I think his confidence needs a lot of working on.”
That’s not just lip service. Coming from a five-time Pro Bowler who’s made a career out of exposing offensive line weaknesses, Crosby’s words carry weight. He’s seen what it takes to succeed - and fail - at the NFL level, especially in the high-pressure crucible of playoff football.
What stood out most in Crosby’s comments was his belief in New England’s ability to develop talent. He pointed to the Patriots’ coaching staff as a reason to stay the course with Campbell.
“You picked him top five to be a top-five pick at tackle,” Crosby said. “I think you get in the offseason, work with him.
Get the coaching, the development right. I know they got great coaches over there.
They got to get him right, and confidence comes from preparation. And I think they do a great job over there with that in New England, so I don’t think you pull the trigger yet.”
That’s a strong endorsement - not just of Campbell’s potential, but of the Patriots’ infrastructure. Crosby knows what elite coaching looks like, and he’s clearly not ready to write off a 22-year-old left tackle after one postseason stumble.
But here’s where things get interesting.
Crosby, who’s spent his entire career in silver and black, has been the subject of swirling rumors this offseason. While he’s tried to keep a lid on the speculation, there’s growing chatter that he could be looking for a change of scenery after seven seasons with the Raiders. And if that door opens, the Patriots might just be a team to watch.
With New England fresh off an AFC title and now looking to shore up their pass rush, the idea of Crosby donning a Patriots uniform isn’t as far-fetched as it might’ve seemed a year ago. Add in the fact that he’s reportedly interested in playing for Mike Vrabel - who now leads the Patriots - and the dots start connecting themselves.
For now, Crosby’s focus seems to be on football, not free agency. But make no mistake: his praise for the Patriots’ coaching staff and his thoughtful breakdown of Campbell’s situation weren’t just empty words. They sounded like the observations of a player who respects what New England is building - and maybe, just maybe, is keeping an eye on what’s happening in Foxborough.
If the Raiders do entertain offers, expect the Patriots to be in the mix. Because if there’s one thing we’ve learned from this league, it’s that elite pass rushers don’t stay on the market for long - especially ones who already sound like they’ve done their homework on your roster.