The Seattle Seahawks don’t need to get pulled into the Maxx Crosby chase if it comes back around.
That was true before his failed trade and before the talk around him got loud, when Seattle reportedly had exploratory conversations about a run at the edge rusher. It may be even truer now. Crosby still looks like a star after his season debut against the Miami Dolphins, but if he ends up back on the market, the Seahawks should be the team that steps aside.
This isn’t about Crosby’s talent. It isn’t about who he is as a player or a person.
It’s about fit, timing, and where Seattle already stands. Bidding big for an aging player makes little sense when the Seahawks already have what looks like the deepest pass-rushing group in football.
What Seattle has done on defense is already working. Against the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl, the Seahawks controlled the line of scrimmage.
They followed that up with more of the same in Week 2. According to Pro Football Focus, Seattle put up 22 pressures in Week 1, including 16 hurries, three quarterback hits, and three sacks against an overhauled Patriots offensive line.
The point is, this isn’t a team begging for a headline addition off the edge. Leonard Williams may not carry the same cachet as Crosby, but he can absolutely hold his own against the best. And defensive coordinator Aden Durde and head coach Mike Macdonald have built a pass-rushing setup that already works.
The Seahawks use shifting personnel, four-man pressure, and pre-snap motion and disguise to create chaos. Crosby would add another weapon to that mix, sure.
But would he be comfortable playing a reduced role? He logged 82 percent of his team’s defensive snaps in Week 1, while no Seahawks defensive end played more than 66 percent.
That’s where the temptation gets dangerous. Fans and analysts can get caught up in the idea that Seattle needs a splash just to keep pace with teams like the Los Angeles Rams, who now have Aaron Donald and Myles Garrett. But chasing the name on the jersey is not the same thing as improving the team.
Seattle already has a system built on how its pieces work together. It’s a finely tuned machine, one that didn’t even need to add a player like Dante Fowler Jr., who would likely start for plenty of teams.
So if the Seahawks are going to swing big, it should be for a real need. Giving up multiple first-round picks for a talented player who could deal with chronic knee injuries as he gets older would be a strange move for a team that wins with depth and balance. On this roster, the strongest move may be the simplest one: leave the Maxx Crosby temptation alone.
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Seahawks Hint At A Defensive Need As Week 2 Uncertainty Grows
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Among the names brought in was undrafted rookie Larry Worth III, who previously spent time with the San Francisco 49ers. The other two defensive options, Devan Boykin and Austin Keys, also bring NFL experience from other stops, giving Seattle a few different looks as it weighs whether there is a fit on that side of the ball. [Read more 🡒]