Raiders GM Talks Maxx Crosby Relationship After Failed Ravens Trade, Expectations for 2026 Season

Maxx Crosby is "absolutely" going to be with the Las Vegas Raiders during Week 1 of the 2026 season, at least according to general manager John Spytek.

Spytek said as much Monday during an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show (4:55 mark) while also opening up about the relationship between the star pass-rusher and the team's front office after the trade that sent him to the Baltimore Ravens for two first-round picks was nullified.

"It's been great," he said. "He really never left. If we look at the actual transaction, he's never not been a Raider. He came back on his first day back and sat in my office, and we talked things through like we always do. Maxx and I have had a lot of great conversations since I've been here. … I think we're always honest with each other. There's been a lot of growth in those conversations as well."

The Crosby saga has been one of the biggest storylines of the entire offseason, although he made it clear he plans on being with the Raiders when he took to social media and exclaimed, "I'm back."

It seemed like he was heading to a presumed AFC contender in Baltimore before the Ravens pulled out because of medical concerns following a physical and MRI.

They ended up signing Trey Hendrickson in free agency after the trade was nullified.

Last month, ESPN's Ryan McFadden reported "sources with the Raiders and those close to Crosby are skeptical that his medical state was the sole motive for the trade reversal, given the timing and that Baltimore had a full understanding of the injury before the trade."

Even Crosby himself said on his podcast, "No one will ever admit what the real truth is."

It has been a busy offseason for the Raiders even beyond Crosby, as they added players such as Nakobe Dean, Quay Walker and Tyler Linderbaum and are widely expected to select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 pick in Thursday's NFL draft.

They are better positioned to compete in a strong AFC West that also includes the Los Angeles Chargers, Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs, and having one of the league's best pass-rushers back on the roster instead of in Baltimore will only make them better.