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- Why this season unraveled for the Las Vegas Raiders
- Maxx Crosby: elite play, awkward fit for a rebuilding roster
- Contract realities and the financial math behind a trade
- Why the Raiders might finally listen to trade offers
- What a trade would yield and how the Raiders could use the return
- Teams that could pursue Crosby and the fit question
- Key developments to watch this offseason
The Las Vegas Raiders entered 2025 with a roster and coaching makeover meant to return them to contention. Instead, a string of costly misfires has left the franchise floundering and prompted fresh trade speculation around its most reliable playmaker.
Why this season unraveled for the Las Vegas Raiders
High-profile hires and big bets failed to translate into wins. Expectations were raised when Pete Carroll arrived as head coach and Chip Kelly took over the offense. The front office also backed Geno Smith as the starting quarterback.
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By Week 14 the club’s record sat at 2-10. Kelly was dismissed midseason. Smith’s production ranked near the bottom among starters. Those developments put the organization on a collision course with a potential roster reset.
Maxx Crosby: elite play, awkward fit for a rebuilding roster
Edge rusher Maxx Crosby has continued to play at a high level despite the Raiders’ struggles. His on-field numbers in 2025 keep him among the game’s more disruptive defenders.
- Availability: Appeared in all 12 games.
- Production: 59 tackles, eight sacks, 23 tackles for loss.
- Analytical grade: Pro Football Focus gives him an 81.2 mark, placing him roughly 16th among 112 qualified edge rushers.
Those figures make Crosby an attractive trade asset. Yet his recent contract and long tenure in Las Vegas complicate any move.
Contract realities and the financial math behind a trade
In March the Raiders extended Crosby for three years at a total of $106.5 million. That commitment signaled a belief in him as a cornerstone.
Still, teams sometimes reverse course when organizational goals change. Trading Crosby next summer could free up roughly $30 million in cap space, according to estimates shared within league circles.
For a team staring at more holes than answers, that kind of payroll relief has clear appeal.
Why the Raiders might finally listen to trade offers
Reports indicate Las Vegas has resisted trading Crosby in recent windows. Interest, however, has been persistent across the league.
Several factors could prompt a different decision this offseason:
- The club’s poor record hints at a multi-year rebuild.
- Crosby would face a fourth head coach in four seasons in 2026.
- The front office could prefer collecting draft capital and younger assets over retaining an aging, high-priced edge rusher.
Trading an elite veteran for multiple picks or young players is a common path for teams resetting their timeline.
What a trade would yield and how the Raiders could use the return
A blockbuster move involving Crosby would be painful for fans. But the potential return could address pressing roster gaps.
- Draft picks to accelerate a rebuild.
- Young defensive or offensive prospects to replenish depth.
- Cap space to pursue targeted free agents or extend emerging players.
Front offices weigh short-term pain against long-term flexibility. The Raiders face that calculus now.
Teams that could pursue Crosby and the fit question
Any club seeking an immediate pass-rush upgrade would view Crosby as a top target. Possible suitors fall into a few categories:
- Contenders needing edge help for a playoff push.
- Teams with cap room to absorb his contract.
- Franchises willing to trade premium picks for proven production.
Matchups, scheme fit, and how much teams value an established veteran versus future picks will dictate the market.
Key developments to watch this offseason
Several signals will reveal whether a Crosby trade is likely:
- Public comments from Raiders leadership about the timeline.
- Preseason trade chatter and which teams are linked to Crosby.
- How much cap savings the Raiders can realistically create by restructuring or trading his deal.
- Interest level at the league’s scouting combine and free agency.
If the Raiders choose to flip Crosby, the move would reshape their rebuild and alter the AFC landscape.
