Patriots Eye Maxx Crosby Trade as Super Bowl Window Opens Under Vrabel
After a stunning turnaround in Mike Vrabel’s first year at the helm, the Patriots have gone from bottom-feeders to Super Bowl contenders-and now the pressure is on to take that next step. A 14-3 regular season and a surprise trip to the Super Bowl have raised the bar in Foxborough, and with over $40 million in cap space and 11 draft picks in their back pocket, the Patriots are armed and ready for a pivotal offseason.
One move that could turbocharge their defense? Swinging a deal for Raiders star edge rusher Maxx Crosby.
Why Crosby Makes Sense
Let’s start with the obvious: Crosby is a game-wrecker. At 28, he’s still in his prime and already has 69.5 sacks, 133 tackles for loss, and five Pro Bowl nods over seven seasons. He’s the kind of relentless, every-down disruptor who doesn’t just rack up stats-he changes the way offenses game plan.
And perhaps most importantly, he reportedly wants to play for Vrabel. That kind of mutual interest is rare and valuable, especially when you’re trying to build a championship-caliber locker room.
The Cost-and the Fit
The Patriots currently hold the 31st pick in what many scouts are calling a down year for top-end draft talent. They could stand pat and hope a solid edge rusher or offensive lineman falls into their lap-or they could get aggressive.
Packaging that pick, along with a player or additional draft capital, could be enough to pry Crosby away from Las Vegas. It wouldn’t be cheap-he’s under contract for four more years at $112.93 million-but the Patriots have flexibility. Restructuring Crosby’s 2026 base salary could free up over $21 million in cap space right away, making the financial side of the deal much more manageable.
Front office leader Eliot Wolf has already made it clear he’s open to making bold moves, citing lessons learned from his time in Green Bay. He’s not afraid to trade if it helps the team both now and later.
And a player like Crosby? That’s the kind of piece that helps you win in January and February.
Building a Dominant Front Seven
New England’s defense was rock-solid in 2025, especially up the middle with Christian Barmore and Milton Williams collapsing pockets from the interior. But the edge pressure was more inconsistent, with players like Harold Landry, Anfernee Jennings, Elijah Ponder and Bradyn Swinson all under contract for 2026, but none quite at Crosby’s level.
K’Lavon Chaisson, who had a breakout year in 2025, is a free agent and could return-but pairing him with Crosby would give the Patriots a front seven that can go toe-to-toe with any in the league.
Think about it: Crosby on the edge, Barmore and Williams inside, Landry and potentially Chaisson rotating in. That’s a unit that can bring pressure from every angle, much like the Seahawks did in the Super Bowl when they overwhelmed rookie quarterback Drake Maye.
The Bigger Picture
Yes, the offensive line is still a work in progress. The Super Bowl loss made that crystal clear. But with young players like Will Campbell and Jared Wilson showing promise, and with plenty of options in free agency and the draft, the Patriots have avenues to improve there.
What they don’t have is a player like Crosby-an elite, proven pass rusher who can flip a game with a single play.
And with Maye still on a rookie deal, the time to strike is now. Quarterbacks on team-friendly contracts open up windows of opportunity that don’t last forever. Surrounding Maye with a dominant defense gives the Patriots the best shot at capitalizing on this moment.
Mike Vrabel brought toughness, discipline, and belief back to New England. Now, with the right moves, he might just bring another Lombardi Trophy, too. Trading for Maxx Crosby could be the first-and biggest-step toward that goal.