In February, Maxx Crosby shared a rehab video. He was doing basketball drills and moving side to side on the knee he had surgery on about two months earlier. “We’re rolling and cooking,” he said with a smile. “I’m still a shoot.” He thanked his trainers and doctors, but he never mentioned the Las Vegas Raiders. That’s a big change from 10 months earlier, when he called the team “an absolute blessing” after signing his extension. Now he’s working out alone and saying nothing about the team that’s paying him.
Loaded Spring
Aug 23, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) against the Arizona Cardinals during a preseason NFL game at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The Raiders went into 2025 with Crosby making $35.5 million per year, the highest-paid non-quarterback at the time. He has five straight Pro Bowl trips and 69.5 career sacks. Since 2021, he’s been near the top of the league in pressures, behind only Micah Parsons and Myles Garrett by some measures. His March 2025 extension was for three years and $106.5 million, meant to keep him in Las Vegas long term. But after a 3-14 season, the Raiders decided his timeline no longer fit their rebuild.
The Benching
Aug 23, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) against the Arizona Cardinals during a preseason NFL game at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Crosby played through a knee injury from October onward, still recording 10 sacks in 15 games. He wanted to finish the season. The Raiders wouldn’t let him. They sat him out for the last two games, saying it was to manage his injury on a team already locked into the No. 1 pick. A star begging to play for a 3-14 team got told no. That feels less like caution and more like a message.
The Fracture
Sep 28, 2025; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) hugs head coach Pete Carroll prior to the game against the Chicago Bears at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Crosby had meniscus surgery on January 7 and was given a three-to-four-month recovery timeline.
Not long after, trade rumors started. He didn’t push back on them. The same player who once called staying in Las Vegas “an absolute blessing” went quiet. Reports say at least a dozen teams called the Raiders about him. Las Vegas set a huge asking price: two first-round picks and a starting player, the same package Dallas got for Micah Parsons. So now you have a $106.5 million star who was benched, rehabbing from surgery, and on the trade block months after signing what was supposed to be a “forever” deal.
The Clock
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
March 11 is the key date. That’s when the new league year starts and Crosby’s $30 million salary becomes fully guaranteed. If the Raiders trade him before then, they save about $30.69 million on the cap and take only $5.1 million in dead money. One NFL reporter projected a 7–10 day window around the combine for a deal to get done. The Raiders’ real leverage isn’t Crosby’s talent; it’s the calendar. Every interested team knows if they wait too long, $30 million locks in, and the Raiders lose their advantage.
Eagle Desperation
Sep 4, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nolan Smith Jr. (3) against the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Looking ahead to 2026, the Eagles only have two edge rushers under contract: Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt. Five other edge defenders on their roster are set to hit free agency, including Jaelan Phillips, who will be expensive after his trade-deadline arrival. One NFL insider put the Eagles in the “top three to top five” teams chasing Crosby and noted they already tried to trade for Parsons in their own division. This isn’t a luxury want for Philadelphia. They badly need help at defensive end.
Bidding War
Dec 14, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) runs onto the field before the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
When 12 teams are interested, the price naturally goes up. Each team willing to pay more drives up the cost for everyone else. The Raiders lined up their asking price with the Parsons deal, even though Crosby is older and coming off knee surgery. Normally, that should push his price down, but a dozen suitors erase the discount. Whoever gets him is looking at around $29 million per year through 2028 in guaranteed money, plus giving up two first-round picks and a starter. That team will be trading long-term flexibility for immediate production from a player who hasn’t yet been fully cleared.
New Precedent
Dec 14, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) on the field after loss to the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
The Parsons trade last August was supposed to be a one-time thing: one desperate team, one superstar, one wild price. Now the Raiders are treating that deal as the minimum standard. If Crosby moves for something similar, that would make two massive edge-rusher trades within a year. That could reset the market. Rebuilding teams with elite pass rushers would now have a clear strategy: sit the star, set a clear deadline, and point to the last blockbuster trade as the template. The idea of an “untradeable cornerstone” starts to look fake. In this new world, stars are assets with an expiration date.
The Gamble
Dec 7, 2025; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) leaves the field following a game against the Denver Broncos at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
One ESPN reporter put the chances of Crosby being traded at about 60%. That still leaves a 40% chance the Raiders keep him, pay the guarantee, and line him up in 2026 for a team aiming to draft Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza first overall. That would mean a five-time Pro Bowler chasing quarterbacks for a team openly looking to reset with a rookie. For the Eagles, bringing in Crosby would instantly burn through their $22 million cap increase, leaving little money to address other needs.
The Counter
Dec 14, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) in the tunnel against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Raiders GM John Spytek has said publicly that he expects Crosby to stay in Las Vegas. ESPN’s reporting, though, says the odds of that are “relatively small.” Both can be true if the price stays sky-high: Crosby only remains a Raider if nobody pays what Spytek wants. The real question is whether the Raiders are willing to go past March 11, eat the guarantee, and wait to trade him mid-season when a contender gets desperate.
Crosby once called the Raiders a blessing. Now that blessing has about nine days left on the clock—and a dozen teams are watching.
If you enjoyed this article, please like and follow us here on MSN! Thank you for reading, and have a great day!
Sources:
Heavy.com – Insider Reveals Raiders’ Maxx Crosby Trade Ultimatum – March 1, 2026
ESPN – Trade offers for Raiders’ Maxx Crosby: Four potential new teams – February 20, 2026
Sports Illustrated – How Maxx Crosby’s Recent Surgery Impacts Timeline for Potential Trade – February 7, 2026
NFL.com – GM John Spytek expects Maxx Crosby to be on Raiders in 2026 amid trade speculation – February 24, 2026
Heavy.com – Tom Pelissero’s New Maxx Crosby Update Is Bears’ Best News Yet – March 1, 2026
Sports Illustrated – Why the Raiders, Crosby Situation Is More Complicated Than It Seems – February 16, 2026
