Maxx Crosby Says He Wants 'Be Left The F--k Alone' and Play Football Amid Raiders Trade Rumors

Maxx Crosby is doing a good job not feeding the rumor mill as speculation about his future with the Las Vegas Raiders picks up steam now that the offseason has started.

Appearing on the Let's Go podcast with Jim Gray (h/t Noah Nussbaum of the New York Post), Crosby said his goals for the future include being able to "play football and be left the f--k alone."

Crosby did go on to say that he has "a lot of goals," including a desire to win in the NFL:

"That's all that matters ultimately, but I want to be in a place where mentally I'm 100 percent myself. I just want to focus on football. That's truly what I want. People that know me know I'm about the work and the football. I just want to play football and be left the f--k alone. Period. And the people that don't understand that don't f--king know me. People can say whatever they want. ... But truly, I don't give a f--k besides playing football and winning football games. I give my whole life to this sport every single day."

Crosby's future with the Raiders became a talking point before the end of the 2025 season.

Fox Sports' Jay Glazer reported on Dec. 28 that Crosby was "not happy" with the organization after their decision to shut him down for their final two games due to a knee injury that he said he had been playing through for most of the season.

Crosby did have surgery to repair his meniscus on Jan. 7. The five-time Pro Bowler has said he expects to be fully recovered by June.

With the Raiders entering a new phase under head coach Klint Kubiak and owning the No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft, there is a chance for them to set up the foundation for their next era of contention.

It's going to be up to Kubiak and general manager John Spytek to determine if that plan includes Crosby or if he might be more valuable as a trade piece. There's also the matter of where Crosby's mindset is at right now.

Kubiak told reporters during his introductory press conference on Tuesday that he views Crosby as a player they would like to build around.

"We want him to be a part of our success going forward," Kubiak said. "There's no doubt about that. He's one of the best players in the NFL. So, that's a no-brainer to get to work with Maxx and to see him continue to have success with this organization."

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Monday's episode of The Pat McAfee Show that there's a "feeling" around the NFL that Crosby would like to be traded, but the Raiders would look for a return similar to what the Dallas Cowboys got for Micah Parsons.

Even though Crosby and Parsons are both among the best pass-rushers in the NFL, there are some key differences that could make difficult for Las Vegas to get a similar return.

Parsons was traded to the Green Bay Packers in exchange for two first-round draft picks and Kenny Clark. He was 26 at the time of the deal, so even though the trade was also contingent on him signing a four-year, $188 million extension, Green Bay could feel confident it was acquiring him while he is still in his prime.

Crosby, who signed a three-year, $106.5 million extension in March 2025, will turn 29 on Aug. 22. He has missed seven games over the past two seasons, including a career-high five in 2024 due to an ankle injury.

There's no immediate concern that Crosby will decline, but it is something that teams would likely be mindful of when considering how much to offer for him in a trade.

In 15 starts last season, Crosby recorded 28 tackles for loss, 20 quarterback hits and 10 sacks. He's a game-changing pass-rusher for any team looking for help on the defensive line.