The Las Vegas Raiders are rebuilding under new head coach Klint Kubiak, and Maxx Crosby sits at the center of every conversation about how that process should unfold.

This past offseason, the Raiders agreed to send the veteran pass rusher to the Baltimore Ravens, only for the trade to unravel when Crosby failed a physical.

The episode left lingering questions about whether Las Vegas might still consider moving him if the season begins poorly and the team decides it needs extra draft capital.

Former Raiders running back Raheem Mostert does not believe that conversation should even be happening. Speaking on a Sept. 4 episode of “Unsportsmanlike with Evan, Canty and Michelle,” Mostert expressed disbelief that the organization ever contemplated parting with a player who has given so much of himself to the franchise.

“I just can’t believe that something like that even occurred in their thought process, especially for a guy that has put his blood, sweat, and tears into an organization and has the organization tatted on him that drafted him,” Mostert said. “He’s gone out there every single game, every single day, and worked his tail off just to show everybody that he’s one of the most dominant pass rushers in the game and also one of the most dominant players that has ever gone through that organization. Mind you, there’s other guys that have done that before him, but he’s the current and the future of the Raiders.”

Mostert later described Crosby as a foundational piece rather than a movable asset.

“I honestly couldn’t believe it because I know Maxx is definitely one of those guys who’s a pillar in the organization,” he said. “He goes out there every day, handles business, and everything that other teammates have said about him in the past is actually true. This guy is a high-motor guy. He’s a staple in the organization.”

Those remarks line up with Crosby’s on-field output. Last season, he played 935 defensive snaps and posted a 79.7 PFF defensive grade while generating 53 pressures, 10 sacks, 31 hurries, 12 quarterback hits and a forced fumble. He also recorded 46 solo tackles against the run, showing he can still affect games even when the pass-rush opportunities are limited.

Trade speculation has not disappeared. Analyst Brian Baldinger recently suggested the San Francisco 49ers could look at Crosby midseason to strengthen their pass rush and keep pace with NFC West rivals.

Baldinger noted that medical evaluations of Crosby’s knee have varied and that the rusher would immediately become San Francisco’s best defensive player if acquired.

For now the Raiders appear inclined to keep Crosby in the building as they try to climb out of the basement. Mostert’s comments reflect the view of someone who shared a locker room with him: a player who has already given the organization everything and who still represents both its present identity and its best chance at a competitive future.

Whether that loyalty holds if the losses pile up remains the open question of the coming months.