Let’s be real, we’ve all seen this breakup coming for quite some time and it was bound to happen sooner than later. Maxx Crosby, hit his breaking point after the team benched him for the final games of 2025, blaming a knee injury he clearly didn’t agree with. He made that pretty clear by posting videos of him jumping around and playing with his kids without any sort of injury in sight. After finishing the 2025 season, you can’t blame Crosby for wanting out and the time has finally come.
How the “Untouchable” Star Became Available
Jan 5, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (left) and wife Rachel Washburn attend the game between the Golden State Warriors and the LA Clippers at the Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Crosby has been the face of the Raider’s for many year and he was without a doubt their golden boy and they weren’t afraid to make that public with the comments they made. You know, the kind of things teams say about a guy they swear they’ll never trade. But here’s the thing, even untouchable players start looking movable when your franchise is holding the No. 1 overall pick and committing to a full teardown under new head coach Klint Kubiak. things stand.
So What’s It Going to Cost to Get Him?
Nov 30, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) reacts after a tackle against the Los Angeles Chargers during the second half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
This is where it gets interesting, and a little messy because the Raiders reportedly want a return comparable to the Micah Parsons trade. Jay Glazer has even suggested the Raiders could command more than that, given Crosby’s production in 2025. But not everyone agrees and the world is watching to see how this story will end.
Crosby’s Massive Contract
Oct 19, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) stretches during warmups prior to the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
Crosby’s contract proves that he’s an elite player with his 2026 cap hit sitting at approximately $30.7 million with a fully guaranteed $30 million base salary. In 2027, his cap number rises to $35.5 million, with guarantees set to kick in by March 2026. For the Raiders, trading Crosby actually makes great financial sense as they’ll be able to absorb only $5 million in dead cap this year and nothing in future seasons. But for any team looking to acquire him? That’s a serious salary commitment that needs some creative cap engineering. He’s worth every penny, but not every team will be able to swing it.
The Front-Runners With the Firepower
Quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) and the New York Giants are shown against the Dallas Cowboys, during the first quarter, Sunday, January 4, 2026, in East Rutherford.-Imagn Images
The Cowboys have had their eyes set on Crosby for months, and honestly, is just makes sense. After trading Micah Parsons, Dallas has a golden opportunity for Crosby to step in immediately. He’d become the defensive centerpiece for a team trying to claw back their way to the top. Here’s the kicker, the Cowboys have the draft capital to actually pull this off. They’re sitting on two first-round picks in 2026 (12th and 20th overall) plus an additional first-rounder in 2027. Reports also indicate Crosby himself would prefer to go to Dallas, which matters since the Raiders will likely try to accommodate his preferred team.
The Rising Team That Needs a Defensive Weapon
Jan 18, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears offensive tackle Darnell Wright (58) celebrates the game-tying extra point by placekicker Cairo Santos (not pictured) against the Los Angeles Rams with eighteen seconds remaining in the fourth quarter of an NFC Divisional Round game at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images
Chicago’s pitch to Crosby is all about timing and under head coach Ben Johnson, the Bears have built a legit offensive identity with quarterback Caleb Williams running the show and offensive talent across the board. Overall, their defense still needs serious work, and that’s where Crosby comes in. Adding a dominant edge rusher would be a statement move that could take them to the top. Chicago also has the financial flexibility to make it work, with the ability to create cap space through moves involving players like DJ Moore.
The Hometown Hero Connection
Jan 4, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears defensive end Dominique Robinson (90) attempts to block the game-winning field goal made by Detroit Lions place kicker Jake Bates (39) during the second half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
This one has serious emotional pull as Crosby is from Eastern Michigan product, and he’s previously said on record that the Lions would be his ideal landing spot if things didn’t work out in Las Vegas. Detroit went 15-2 in 2024 but slipped to 9-8 in 2025, missing the playoffs entirely and adding Crosby alongside a returning Aidan Hutchinson would give Detroit an edge-rushing duo that could send them over the top. General manager Brad Holmes has historically been cautious with major investments, and Detroit is currently in the red when it comes to cap space in 2026, sitting around -$13 million in effective cap space according to Over The Cap.
Why Trading Crosby Actually Makes Sense for the Raiders
Dec 7, 2025; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) and Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton meet on the field following a game at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Here’s the uncomfortable truth Raiders fans don’t want to hear but at the end of the day, this trade is cold, hard logic. Las Vegas is staring down a multi-year rebuild, likely using that No. 1 overall pick on a franchise-altering quarterback. Crosby turns 29 this year and has ended last season injured on reserve with lower-body issues. His timeline simply doesn’t align with where this franchise is headed. By trading him now, the Raiders have the opportunity to trade an elite players for multiple premium draft picks that accelerate the rebuilding process. The Raiders need picks, not a superstar playing out his best years on a 3-win team.
Teams That Could Shake Everything Up
Oct 12, 2025; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) reacts after a play during the second half against the Tennessee Titans at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Don’t throw away the wild cards too easily as the New England Patriots have been heavily linked to Crosby, and that’s because Crosby reportedly has interest in playing for head coach Mike Vrabel. New England also had the worst sack differential in the NFL in 2025, making the need obvious. Then there’s the San Francisco 49ers, who went 12-5 in 2025 and made a deep playoff run have their card in the mix too because pairing Crosby with Nick Bosa would create arguably the most terrifying edge-rushing duo in NFL history.
The Clock Is Ticking, What Happens Now?
Sep 28, 2025; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) looks on from the sideline during the first quarter against the Chicago Bears at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Time is not on anyone’s side here and with the NFL Draft approaching, both the Raiders and potential buyers have every reason to move fast. The Raiders need to maximize trade value before the contract seems riskier than it should. One thing is certain, Maxx Crosby will likely be wearing a new uniform in 2026.
If you enjoyed this article please like and follow us here on MSN! Thank you for reading and have a great day!
Sources:
Yahoo Sports, “The best 3 landing spots for NFL star Maxx Crosby following his trade request,” February 6, 2026
Raiderswire (USA Today), “Jay Glazer says Maxx Crosby is done with Raiders,” February 4, 2026
Yahoo Sports, “Raiders Reportedly Take Stance on Maxx Crosby’s Future,” February 7, 2026
Sports Illustrated, “How Trade for Maxx Crosby Would Impact Lions’ Salary Cap,” February 5, 2026
Raiderswire (USA Today), “3 free agent EDGEs the Raiders should pursue amidst Maxx Crosby trade rumors,” February 6, 2026
