The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have made it clear this offseason: they need a spark in the pass rush, and they might just be inching closer to landing one of the league’s elite edge defenders. According to a report from Jason La Canfora, Maxx Crosby has privately indicated to Tom Brady-now a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders-that he doesn’t plan to return to Vegas in 2026.
That’s a bombshell, especially considering the source is reportedly an unnamed general manager. While the details remain unofficial, the ripple effect is undeniable.
Crosby has been the heartbeat of the Raiders’ defense since bursting onto the scene in 2019 with a 10-sack rookie campaign. Now 28, he’s averaged just over 10.7 sacks per year across seven seasons-a model of consistency and disruption off the edge.
To say Crosby would be a game-changer for Tampa Bay is putting it mildly.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t a simple free-agent scenario. Crosby is locked into a massive three-year, $106 million extension that runs through 2029.
Players don’t just walk away from that kind of deal. If he’s truly on his way out of Vegas, it would almost certainly come via trade-and a blockbuster one at that.
But if the Bucs could somehow pull it off? The impact would be immediate.
Tampa’s pass rush took a noticeable step back in 2025. They finished 19th in sacks per game, a steep drop for a team that had been a staple in the top 12 for six straight seasons.
Injuries and regression played a big role. Logan Hall didn’t take the step forward many expected, and Calijah Kancey’s injury sidelined what was supposed to be a breakout year.
The result? A net loss of 11.5 sacks compared to the previous season.
Those two aren’t solely to blame, but they were supposed to be key contributors. When your young core struggles to produce, it exposes the entire unit-and that’s exactly what happened in Tampa.
Enter Crosby, hypothetically. His motor, production, and leadership would instantly elevate the front seven. He’s not just a sack artist-he’s a tone-setter, the kind of edge presence that forces offensive coordinators to change their game plan.
That said, even if Crosby wants out, it doesn’t guarantee anything. Just last year, Myles Garrett asked out of Cleveland after eight seasons.
Not only did the Browns hold firm, but Garrett responded by winning Defensive Player of the Year and setting a new single-season sack record. So yeah, player requests don’t always equal player movement.
And if Crosby is available, the price won’t be cheap. Think about the kind of haul it took to pry Sauce Gardner away at the trade deadline-this would be in that ballpark, if not more. Franchise-altering deals like this don’t come around often, and they don’t come cheap.
Still, for a Bucs fanbase hungry to see the defense return to dominance, this is the kind of rumor that fuels offseason dreams. If Jason Licht and the front office can somehow pull the trigger, expect No. 98 jerseys to fly off the shelves in Tampa. The streets would be buzzing, and rightfully so.
It’s still a long shot-but it’s a tantalizing one. And for now, that’s enough to keep the dream alive.