Maxx Crosby’s name is back in the middle of 49ers trade chatter, and this time the noise is coming after a reported sideline-and-practice dustup with Kirk Cousins.
The offseason already had plenty of smoke around Crosby and San Francisco. Once the Los Angeles Rams traded for Myles Garrett, the pressure seemed to build for the 49ers to answer with a splash of their own. That buzz quieted down when Crosby failed a physical and a deal that would have sent him to the Ravens got blocked, which made it look like he might be settled in Las Vegas for the long haul.
Now the conversation has shifted again. According to the report, Crosby and Cousins got into it at practice after the five-time Pro Bowler hit Cousins twice even though he had been told not to. Cousins then got in his face and grabbed his jersey.
It never turned into a full-on fight, but it was still enough to add another layer of tension to a Raiders camp that already has plenty of questions around it. Scuffles like that happen all the time in the NFL, and there was another one just last week between Dre Greenlaw and Christian McCaffrey.
The bigger takeaway for San Francisco is that any friction in Las Vegas could keep the door cracked open for a future move. The Raiders are still rebuilding, and the article paints a picture of a team with low expectations, with Cousins described as a washed-up veteran and first overall pick Fernando Mendoza waiting on the sideline.
That’s where the 49ers angle gets interesting. It would have been ideal for them to strike earlier in the offseason, but waiting may end up working in their favor if Crosby becomes unhappy with his situation. The more that kind of discontent builds, the more leverage San Francisco could gain.
And the need for help is real. The 49ers have already been hit hard by injuries, and that has exposed how thin things can get even when the roster looks strong on paper. Kyle Shanahan got to 12-5 last season despite the injury pileup, but the article makes clear that kind of survival act is not something to count on again if the attrition keeps going.
A deal still might not happen until the trade deadline, but that’s part of what makes this situation worth watching. If the Cousins-Crosby tension grows, the 49ers could be in position to jump in and land one of the league’s best pass rushers right when they need a defensive lift the most.
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