The Patriots have already made one splash this offseason, landing wide receiver A.J. Brown from the Eagles last month. If the next wave of blockbuster movement hits the way some around the league expect, New England could be right back in the middle of it.
The name to watch is Maxx Crosby.
Crosby was the first superstar to move this offseason, going from the Raiders to the Ravens in a massive deal before Baltimore backed out after reportedly being uneasy about the pass rusher’s medical history. The Raiders seemed prepared to take him back, but that may not be the end of the story. Crosby could still push for another move, and Las Vegas could also decide to shop him again before the season’s deadline in an effort to recover some of the draft capital lost when the original trade unraveled.
That’s exactly the kind of situation the Patriots should be monitoring closely. If Crosby is available again, his demand should be lower than it was before, and that would bring the price down with it.
Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport recently predicted that Crosby could ask out again later this year, and that puts New England back in the mix after it was already linked to him before the Ravens deal. The fit is obvious on paper.
The Patriots’ biggest issue right now is their pass rush, especially with second-round pick Gabe Jacas still away from the team since rookie mini camp this spring. Harold Landry is also coming off offseason surgery, and there are real questions about how productive Dre’Mont Jones will be in a bigger role after signing as a free agent.
If the Patriots want a true difference-maker up front, Crosby would be the kind of addition that changes the conversation immediately. It would also give them the sort of defensive force they haven’t had since Matthew Judon was in uniform.
And with A.J. Brown already added to the offense, the idea is simple: if New England gets that kind of defensive boost too, it starts looking like a real Super Bowl contender. The article’s case is straightforward enough for Eliot Wolf - if Crosby becomes available at the right price, the Patriots have every reason to find out what it would take.
A 5-time Pro Bowler coming off a 10-sack season in a shortened year because of injury would be a major swing. It could put New England right back on track for a Super Bowl push in a season plenty of analysts have already written off, and Crosby would likely be interested in being part of that.
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Patriots Camp Battles Could Decide How Well Drake Maye Survives 2026
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There is a similar feel in the slot, where DeMario Douglas enters camp as the front-runner but cannot coast with second-year receiver Efton Chism, III pressing for a bigger role. For an offense trying to give Maye cleaner answers and fewer hurried decisions, these are not small camp competitions. They are the kinds of battles that can determine whether the Patriots spend the fall protecting their quarterback or asking him to survive too many snaps on his own. [Read more 🡒]