The idea of Maxx Crosby in a 49ers uniform is no longer just a wild deadline day thought. With the Raiders sliding to 3-4, Tim Kawakami of The San Francisco Standard said Crosby has become a real trade possibility from San Francisco’s point of view.
“Even when the Raiders were 3-0, I’ve mentioned Maxx Crosby as an option. Now with the Raiders at 3-3 (now 3-4, the story was published on Sunday) … I think he’s a very real option, if Mark Davis can even consider trading him to the 49ers,” Kawakami wrote in a story.
Las Vegas opened the year with promise, but the momentum has disappeared fast. The Raiders have too many questions hanging over them now, and with the NFL trade deadline approaching, Crosby’s future is suddenly part of the conversation.
The 49ers, meanwhile, are still in strong position at 6-1 even after Sunday’s 29-20 upset loss to the Atlanta Falcons. That record keeps San Francisco firmly in the mix, and a defender like Crosby would fit the kind of move a team with Super Bowl hopes makes when it sees an opening.
That’s the basic case here: the Raiders are drifting, the 49ers are chasing a championship, and Crosby is the kind of player who can tilt the balance. It’s the same logic that applied to the Los Angeles Rams before they acquired Myles Garrett during the offseason, even though Garrett has dealt with injury concerns.
None of that means a deal is close. The Raiders still might try to salvage their season and push for the postseason instead of selling off one of their stars. But the timing makes this one especially interesting, because San Francisco’s next game comes on November 8 against Crosby’s Raiders, just two days before the November 10 trade deadline.
In Other News...
49ers Bye Week Could Clarify A Return Picture Fans Need To See
The bye week arrives at a useful time for a 49ers team that has spent much of the first half juggling injuries, roster moves and the expectation that help is still on the way. San Francisco is using the break to reset physically and sort through a return picture that includes several important names, with the hope that the roster looks a lot healthier once the season resumes.
There is still some uncertainty in the timing, though, especially for the players fans are watching most closely. Deebo Samuel is part of that recovery conversation, but his hamstring situation may require a little more patience even after the break, while the 49ers are particularly eager to see one of their defensive leaders get through the extra week in good shape. Other injured players remain further away, leaving the team to balance short-term caution with the need to get stronger for the second half. [Read more 🡒]
Kyle Shanahan Heads Into Bye With A 49ers Problem He Must Fix
The 49ers have spent much of the early season trying to build on clean, efficient football, but the last two weeks have complicated that picture. After standing as the leagues least-penalized team through Week 5, San Francisco suddenly looked sloppier in back-to-back games, with discipline issues becoming a more visible part of the conversation as the offense and defense both fought through a rough stretch.
Kyle Shanahan now gets the bye week to sort out a problem that has started to chip away at the Niners edge. Penalties are rarely the flashiest issue on a contender, but they can quickly become one when they alter drives, extend possessions and force a team to play from behind. For a San Francisco group that still has bigger goals in front of it, the coming week offers a needed reset before the season resumes. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Keep Running Into The Same Problem On Offense
The 49ers have spent much of this season trying to piece together an offense that can stay intact long enough to find a rhythm, and Mike Evans has become a central part of that equation. Injuries have already forced San Francisco to navigate stretches without Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle, leaving the unit short on the kind of playmaking and stability that usually keeps it on schedule. Even with the bye week offering a reset and a chance to get some bodies back, the bigger concern is whether the group can finally look like a whole offense for more than a brief stretch.
What has made the situation so frustrating is how dependent the 49ers have become on Evans being available and productive. When he is on the field, the offense can look far more balanced and dangerous, but every absence seems to expose the same familiar issues in protection, timing and finishing drives. The coming weeks will tell a lot about whether San Francisco can finally escape that cycle, or whether it is going to keep leaning on a few key names just to keep the attack moving. [Read more 🡒]