5 NFL Offseason Trades to Rescue Maxx Crosby From Raiders

The Las Vegas Raiders succeeded in losing on Sunday, falling to the New York Giants and taking control of the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL draft. While tanking may not have been the initial plan in 2025, it has clearly become Las Vegas' goal, and one star player isn't happy about it.

The Raiders made their intentions clear when they shut down tight end Brock Bowers and pass-rusher Maxx Crosby ahead of the Giants game. Crosby "vehemently disagreed" with that decision, according to Fox Sports' Jay Glazer, and left the Raiders' facility.

Las Vegas is likely approaching a full-blown rebuild, and if Crosby wants no part in it, the Raiders will have to consider trading him as part of the reconstruction effort. Who might be interested? What might Crosby realistically fetch on the trade market this offseason? Let's take a look.

Assessing Crosby's Situation and Trade Value

AP Photo/Matt Rourke

Maxx Crosby

While Crosby hasn't reached the point where he has requested a trade, that time may come. According to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport, the Raiders' decision to sideline Crosby for the final two games of the season will cause him to evaluate his future with the franchise.

Glazer supported that idea, while noting that Crosby told his team that he didn't want to be dealt at the trade deadline.

"He told the team he doesn't want to get traded anywhere else. I don't know if that's still the case," Glazer said on Fox NFL Kickoff. "I think there's some massaging that still has to happen."

We've seen NFL players publicly request trades, only to have things smoothed over by the team—often via a contract adjustment or new deal. However, that may not work for Crosby, who just signed a three-year, $106.5 million extension in March.

The 28-year-old may only be satisfied by a chance to win, something he may not find in Las Vegas over the next couple of seasons. If he'll now welcome a trade, the Raiders can, and possibly should, make it happen.

Because Crosby's contract will only have $35.1 million in dead money after this season, Las Vegas could save $30.8 million in cap space by moving him. It would also get a substantial package in return that could be put toward the latest rebuild.

Crosby is one of the league's most disruptive defenders, a Pro Bowl pass-rusher, and a terrific leader who is still in his playing prime. He also has a relatively team-friendly contract that contains cap hits below $30 million in 2027, 2028 and 2029.

According to Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, at least one NFL executive believes that Crosby would net "at least" two first-round draft picks. Those picks, along with next year's first overall selection, could help the Raiders jump-start their latest rebuilding effort.

Baltimore Ravens

AP Photo/Nick Wass

Ravens WR Rashod Bateman

Baltimore Gets: DE Maxx Crosby

Las Vegas Gets: 2026 1st-round pick, 2027 1st-round pick, WR Rashod Bateman

The Baltimore Ravens still have a chance to steal the AFC North this season. If they beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 18, they'll be in the playoffs. However, it's clear that some offseason retooling in Baltimore may be necessary.

The Ravens have typically been good enough offensively when Lamar Jackson has been healthy. However, their 25th-ranked defense hasn't been playoff-caliber. Getting to opposing quarterbacks has been a particularly big problem, too.

Baltimore has logged just 28 sacks as a team, and no Ravens defender has recorded more than four.

Adding Crosby to the mix would help the Ravens return to being a legitimate threat in the AFC. As part of the deal, Baltimore could send wide receiver Rashod Bateman to Las Vegas.

If the Raiders don't beat the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 18, they'll secure the No. 1 pick in next year's draft. Presumably, they'll use that pick on a top quarterback prospect like Indiana's Fernando Mendoza—the top QB on the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's 2026 big board.

Bateman, a 26-year-old former first-round pick, would help strengthen Las Vegas' receiving corps and help support whichever quarterback the Raiders bring in next.

Buffalo Bills

AP Photo/Adrian Kraus

Bills WR Joshua Palmer

Buffalo Gets: DE Maxx Crosby

Las Vegas Gets: 2026 1st-round pick, 2026 4th-round pick, 2027 1st-round pick, WR Joshua Palmer

The Buffalo Bills have already secured a playoff spot, but they should be looking to add win-now talent for as long as their Super Bowl window remains open.

The Bills have recently gone the aging veteran pass-rusher route, adding Von Miller in 2022 and Joey Bosa this past offseason. Perhaps it's time they target a premier pass-rusher in his prime, like Crosby.

Bosa, for the record, ranks second among Bills defenders with five sacks.

Crosby would pair with Bills' sack-leader Gregory Rousseau to form a terrific pass-rushing tandem. That duo would help Buffalo battle the New England Patriots for AFC East supremacy.

Las Vegas, in return, could land a sizeable trade package, along with veteran receiver Joshua Palmer.

Palmer is only 26 and has experience playing in the AFC West after spending four years with the Los Angeles Chargers. He's had some bright moments for the Bills this season, but Buffalo would have to generate substantial cap space to make any move for Crosby.

The Bills have just $5.3 million in projected 2026 cap room. Dealing Palmer would generate another $5.5 million in cap space. Buffalo would still need to cut salary to take on Crosby's contract, but moving Palmer would be a good start.

Cincinnati Bengals

AP Photo/Jeff Dean

Bengals DE Shemar Stewart

Cincinnati Gets: DE Maxx Crosby

Las Vegas Gets: 2026 2nd-round pick, 2027 1st-round pick, DE Shemar Stewart

The Cincinnati Bengals need to do something to produce a functional defense. They have one of the NFL's top quarterbacks in Joe Burrow, plus a tremendous collection of offensive skill players. However, the Bengals' defense has recently kept them out of the playoff hunt, even when Burrow has been healthy.

Cincinnati currently ranks dead-last in total defense and has recorded just 28 sacks as a team. It's also set to lose standout sack artist Trey Hendrickson in free agency.

Making a move for Crosby would accomplish two things for the Bengals. Obviously, it would help improve a defense that desperately needs an influx of talent. It would also signal to the fanbase and the players that Cincinnati is serious about building a winner.

In this hypothetical scenario, the Bengals send young defender Shemar Stewart as part of the package to land Crosby. The 17th overall pick in the 2025 draft, Stewart is a physically gifted but raw pass-rushing prospect who might better fit Las Vegas' trajectory than Cincinnati's.

It's likely going to take time for Stewart to develop into a star, and the Bengals need to maximize their window with Burrow now. In Las Vegas, though, Stewart could potentially ascend around the same time the Raiders are ready to contend in the AFC West.

Detroit Lions

AP Photo/Ryan Sun

Lions head coach Dan Campbell

Detroit Gets: DE Maxx Crosby

Las Vegas Gets: 2026 1st-round pick, 2026 5th-round pick, 2027 1st-round pick, 2027 4th-round pick

The Detroit Lions will miss the playoffs a year after winning an NFC-best 15 games. Detroit's issues in 2025 have been two-fold. Injuries and inefficient play doomed the Lions' defense for the second straight year, and the team dealt with losing its offensive and defensive coordinators during the offseason.

Head coach Dan Campbell did his best to keep Detroit on a winning trajectory, but he was never able to replicate the offensive success of former coordinator and current Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson.

Bad defense and an inconsistent offense made for a non-contender.

Adding a defensive star like Crosby wouldn't fix all of the Lions' issues. However, it would give Detroit a legitimate difference-maker to pair with Aidan Hutchinson along the defensive front for the next several seasons.

Detroit had a strong complementary pass-rusher this season in Al-Quadin Muhammad, but the 30-year-old is playing on a one-year deal and could depart in the offseason.

The Lions are trying to get back into the Super Bowl conversation, and they tend to lock up their young core players early. Therefore, they may not be willing to part with any notable players in a deal to acquire Crosby. However, they could offer an enticing package of picks, especially since they aren't in this year's postseason field.

San Francisco 49ers

AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin

Raiders DE Keion White

San Francisco Gets: DE Maxx Crosby

Las Vegas Gets: 2026 1st-round pick, 2027 1st-round pick, 2027 5th-round pick, DE Keion White

The San Francisco 49ers are again one of the top teams in the NFL, and they'll have an opportunity to secure the NFC's No. 1 seed in Week 18. However, they've struggled to rush the quarterback this season, largely due to the fact that they lost Nick Bosa to a torn ACL back in Week 3.

San Francisco also lost rookie first-round pick Mykel Williams to a torn ACL in November.

While Bosa is expected to be ready for the start of the 2026 season, the 49ers could afford to add more to their pass-rushing rotation. With Bosa unavailable for most of the season, San Francisco's defense has compiled just 18 sacks.

Pairing Crosby with Bosa would give San Francisco one of the league's most potent pass-rushing tandems. It would also reunite Crosby with 49ers assistant head coach Gus Bradley, who was Las Vegas' defensive coordinator during Crosby's first Pro Bowl campaign.

The 49ers could send a package of picks to the Raiders, along with 2023 second-round pick Keion White. San Francisco acquired White at the trade deadline to bolster their edge-rushing rotation, and it might not have a use for him if Crosby is added to the mix.

*Cap and contract information from Spotrac.