The New England Patriots are heading into the offseason with a clear priority: bolster the edge of their defense. And if they’re thinking big - as they should - one name that’s bound to surface is Maxx Crosby.
Crosby, the relentless pass rusher from the Las Vegas Raiders, has been at the center of trade buzz for a while now. That noise only got louder late in the 2025 season when tensions reportedly flared between Crosby and then-head coach Pete Carroll.
The issue? Carroll shut Crosby down before the season ended - a move the star defensive end clearly didn’t agree with.
“I’ve been on the phone with Maxx a bunch over the last couple days,” said FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer. “He is not happy.” That’s not just frustration - that’s the kind of quote that raises antennas across the league.
Glazer also hinted that Crosby might be rethinking his long-term commitment to the Raiders. And if that door swings open, even just a little, teams like the Patriots will be ready to walk through it.
Now, if the Raiders do decide to explore a trade, it's expected they'll work closely with Crosby on a potential destination. This isn’t your average disgruntled star situation - the Raiders have a deep respect for what Crosby has meant to the franchise, and they'd likely want to do right by him.
Enter New England.
According to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, the Patriots could be high on Crosby’s list of preferred landing spots. Why? One major reason: Mike Vrabel.
"Maxx Crosby doesn’t seem too happy in Las Vegas… I know he wants to play for Mike Vrabel. He’s told me before," Russini said during an appearance on Zolak and Bertrand.
That’s not a small endorsement. Vrabel’s reputation across the league is rock solid - a coach who’s demanding but fair, tough but respected.
He’s the kind of leader players want to go to battle for. Even Patrick Mahomes has gone on record saying he’d love to play for Vrabel.
But it’s not just about the coach. Crosby is 28, in the prime of his career, and if he’s looking to make a move, it’s going to be with one goal in mind: winning a Super Bowl.
That’s where New England starts to look like an even better fit. With Vrabel at the helm and a defense that’s already trending in the right direction, the Patriots could offer Crosby both the leadership he craves and the competitive window he’s chasing.
And let’s be honest - Crosby is tailor-made for a Vrabel defense. He’s a high-motor, no-nonsense edge rusher who plays every snap like it’s his last.
He’s not just a sack artist - he’s a tone-setter, a locker room leader, and the kind of guy who elevates everyone around him. That’s exactly the kind of presence New England could use as they reload for another run.
If the Raiders decide to move on, or if Crosby pushes for a fresh start, don’t be surprised if the Patriots are right in the thick of the conversation. The fit makes too much sense - for the team, for the player, and for a franchise looking to reestablish itself among the AFC’s elite.