The Patriots have a pass-rush problem, and Maxx Crosby keeps looking more like the kind of fix that can’t be ignored.
That’s the tension sitting at the center of the Raiders star’s latest training camp controversy. Crosby’s hits on quarterback Kirk Cousins have already drawn a response from head coach Klent Kubiak, who stepped in by keeping both players out of live periods in last Saturday’s practice. The message was clear: even the biggest names don’t get a pass when team standards are on the line.
For New England, though, the bigger question isn’t whether Crosby crossed a line. It’s whether that line should scare the Patriots away from making a trade call.
Crosby has been floated as a Patriots target in media speculation this offseason, and the fit is obvious. New England needs edge help badly, and Crosby brings exactly the kind of production the defense lacks.
He has posted double-digit sacks in four of his seven NFL seasons, including 10 in 2025. He’s also a five-time Pro Bowler and a two-time second-team All-Pro.
That’s the easy part of the case. The harder part is deciding whether the Raiders’ recent handling of Crosby says something about what kind of player he is. His actions against Cousins were reckless enough to draw Kubiak’s ire, and they raise a fair concern about whether Crosby puts himself ahead of the team when emotions run hot.
Still, if Crosby is available, the Patriots shouldn’t let the controversy do the thinking for them.
The team’s need is too obvious. The pass rush is the engine of the defense, and New England doesn’t have enough of it right now. If there’s a chance to land a proven difference-maker at that spot, the Patriots should at least be in the conversation.
And with Mike Vrabel now in charge, the Patriots have a coach who can keep things disciplined. There is only one sheriff in town: Vrabel. If Las Vegas is willing to listen, New England should call, be prepared to pay up, and see whether a deal can be done.
Because for the 2026 Patriots, addressing the pass rush may not be optional. It may be the thing that keeps the season from getting away before it even starts.
In Other News...
Patriots Just Sent A Clear Message About Greg Van Roten
The Patriots added a veteran solution to the interior offensive line after the preseason opener left them thinner than they wanted to be. Greg Van Roten arrives on a deal built around a modest base salary, a signing bonus and incentives, with the team clearly valuing the kind of steady depth he can bring behind starting left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker.
At 36, Van Roten is being brought in for more than just insurance, even if that is the immediate need after injuries to Ben Brown and Andrew Rupcich. The structure of the contract suggests New England sees a useful stopgap now, with some upside if he handles a bigger role than expected, and that is a pretty direct message about how the Patriots want the offensive line handled heading into the season. [Read more 🡒]
Drake Maye Is Already Saying What Patriots Fans Need To Hear
Drake Maye spent part of the week around the Eagles, and the interaction gave the Patriots a useful glimpse into how their young quarterback is approaching the next stage of his development. After joint practices, Maye spoke with clear admiration for Jalen Hurts, pointing to Hurts work ethic and the path he has carved out in the league. He also noted how close the two came to overlapping at Alabama, a small detail that underscored just how long Maye has been tracking the kind of quarterback standard he wants to reach.
For New England, the bigger takeaway is less about the comparison itself and more about where Mayes head is as he heads into his third NFL season. He has been candid about focusing on the mental side of his game, and that matters for a team still trying to stabilize the most important position on the field. Hurts rise, resilience and Super Bowl-level success offer a clear model, and Maye seems intent on learning from it while continuing to build his own path. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Face A New Doubt About Mike Vrabel And Drake Maye
The conversation around Mike Vrabels first months in New England has taken on another layer, this one coming from the media rather than the field. Colin Cowherd weighed in on the reported affair allegation involving Vrabel and NFL reporter Dianna Russini, separating the ethics question from the morals debate while using the moment to revisit how the Patriots are viewed heading into the season.
Cowherd was skeptical that New England can simply roll last years success forward and suggested the team looks more like a wild-card outfit than a Super Bowl contender. Even so, he had high regard for the Vrabel-Drake Maye partnership, ranking it among the leagues better coach-quarterback pairings and putting it sixth overall, which is part of what makes the Patriots next step such an intriguing one. [Read more 🡒]