The Raiders say they have “no plans” to trade Maxx Crosby, but that kind of language has a way of aging badly in November.
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, that is the official word out of Las Vegas. It’s the same sort of line teams lean on every year right up until the moment they change course and move the player anyway.
This week offered a fresh reminder. The Titans had no plans to trade defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, until they did.
On Tuesday, they reportedly began listening to calls. Two days later, Simmons was in Chicago.
That’s why the Crosby chatter isn’t going away. Teams that want him will keep checking in, and if the Raiders drop the next two games before the deadline and slide to 3-6, the door could open wider. They already went down this road once in March.
That was when the Raiders had a deal in place to send Crosby to the Ravens for a pair of first-round picks. The trade collapsed after Baltimore wasn’t comfortable with the condition of Crosby’s surgically-repaired knee.
Even so, the episode matters now because it shows Las Vegas has already considered the possibility of moving him. If they were willing to do it then, they can do it again if the right offer comes along.
The catch is obvious: whatever the Raiders get now will be measured against what they could have gotten in March. If the return is less than two first-round picks, selling it to the fan base could be tough.
Then again, maybe the sell is easier than it looks. After four straight losses, the reality of this once 3-0 team has set in.
The roster still has plenty of holes, and moving Crosby would give the Raiders a chance to bring in young, inexpensive players. It would also clear cash and cap space to keep other veterans in place.
Even if the return falls short of two firsts, that may still look better than holding onto Crosby through a rebuild that never seems to end.
The Titans just showed how these deals can work in practice. By moving Simmons, they picked up two first-round picks and avoided most of his $105 million extension.
They needed players, and the trade should eventually turn into five or six. The Raiders could take a similar path with Crosby, because they need players, too.
So for now, the answer is “no plans.” The real question is whether that answer still holds nine days from now.
As for Crosby’s own preference, the source of the trade rumor doesn’t really give him much control. Without a no-trade clause, he can’t block a move. And if he ends up with a contender, it’s hard to see him complaining much.
In Other News...
Titans Sent A Clear Message About Jeffery Simmons After His Trade
Jeffery Simmons departure to Chicago did not go unnoticed in Tennessee, and the Titans made sure of that in their next game. The defensive line showed up with red sleeves as a nod to the veteran tackle, a small but visible tribute to a player who had become a central figure in the room and on the field.
Solomon Thomas spoke about Simmons impact on the team and the gesture that followed his trade, underscoring how much respect he had earned inside the building. For a defense trying to move forward without one of its defining voices, the tribute said plenty about the standard Simmons left behind and the void the Titans now have to fill. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Trade Drama Just Took A Wild Jeffery Simmons Turn
Trade chatter around Jeffery Simmons took an unusual turn when Giants coach John Harbaugh confirmed he reached out directly to Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk about a possible deal. The move came after New York reportedly was not getting anywhere through Tennessee general manager Mike Borgonzi, which pushed Harbaugh to try a different route as the sides explored whether there was any real traction on the defensive tackle.
Harbaugh also made clear he has no interest in following any unwritten etiquette that might keep coaches from picking up the phone on matters like this, saying he would make similar calls again if needed. For Tennessee, it adds another layer to a situation already worth watching, since Simmons remains the kind of player who can alter a defense and draw interest even when the usual front-office path is not producing movement. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Rebuild Just Put Jacob Martin At The Center Of A Debate
Jacob Martins best game of the season came in a loss that only sharpened the bigger conversation around the Titans direction. In the overtime defeat to Cincinnati, the edge rusher piled up three sacks and nine quarterback pressures, the kind of disruptive night that stands out even on a team sitting at 1-7 and deep in a rebuilding stretch.
With the November 10 trade deadline approaching, Martin has suddenly become one of the more interesting names on Tennessees roster. The Titans have already shown a willingness to move pieces as they sort through the future, and a productive pass rusher on a struggling team naturally draws attention, even if no deal has been confirmed. [Read more 🡒]