If you're the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and you just watched your defense struggle to get off the field for most of last season, a name like Maxx Crosby hitting the trade rumor mill is the kind of news that makes you sit up straight.
According to NFL insider Jay Glazer, Crosby may be on his way out of Las Vegas. And if that’s true, the Bucs need to be one of the first teams making that phone call.
Let’s not sugarcoat it - the Bucs’ defense was a problem last season. A big one.
They couldn’t generate consistent pressure, they couldn’t close out games, and their struggles down the stretch were a major reason they missed the playoffs in what was arguably one of the weakest NFC South divisions in recent memory. That’s not just disappointing - it’s unacceptable for a team that still has pieces to compete.
Right now, Tampa Bay’s edge rush depth chart is thin. Really thin.
YaYa Diaby showed flashes and looks like a player who can grow into a starting role, but beyond him? It’s a steep drop-off.
This is a team in desperate need of a game-wrecker off the edge - someone who can change the tone of a game with a single snap. That’s exactly who Maxx Crosby is.
Crosby’s been the heart and soul of the Raiders’ defense for years, but according to Glazer, he’s had enough. The frustrations with the organization - from coaching changes to front office instability - seem to have reached a boiling point. And while Tom Brady joining the ownership group and Klint Kubiak stepping in as head coach might be fresh starts for Vegas, it doesn’t sound like it’s enough to convince Crosby to stay.
Now, if Crosby is truly available, the Bucs have to find a way to make it work. He’s not just another solid player - we’re talking about a Defensive Player of the Year-caliber talent, a relentless motor, a guy who never takes a play off. He’s the kind of presence who elevates everyone around him and forces offenses to game plan around his every move.
Of course, pulling off a trade for a player of Crosby’s caliber isn’t easy. The Raiders will want real value in return, and the Bucs need to be smart about how they build their offer.
Giving up a first-round pick in this year’s draft - especially with the defensive talent expected to be available - might not be the right play. But there are other ways to get creative.
A package of future picks, a player or two, maybe even a pick swap - if Jason Licht and the front office want Crosby badly enough, there’s a deal to be made.
And make no mistake: landing Crosby would be a game-changer for Tampa Bay. This is a team that couldn’t even manage to beat the Panthers last season.
They need a spark. They need someone who can bring back that edge - literally and figuratively - to a defense that’s lost its bite.
Crosby could be that guy. He’s a tone-setter.
A leader. A disruptor.
And if he’s truly on the market, the Bucs need to be in the mix - aggressively. Because players like Maxx Crosby don’t become available often.
And when they do, the teams that make bold moves are the ones that take the leap from middling to menacing.
For a Bucs team stuck in neutral, this could be the move that shifts everything.