Speculation about whether the Las Vegas Raiders will move star defensive end Maxx Crosby has intensified in recent days, fueled by inquiries from the Dallas Cowboys and the team’s dismal 2-5 start to the 2025 season.
Despite reports that the Raiders have reassured Crosby he won’t be shipped out before the November 4 trade deadline—effectively quashing talks with Dallas—the whispers refuse to fade entirely. But is the door truly closed?
Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio remains skeptical about the team’s firm stance and questions whether the perennial Pro Bowler truly wants to stick around in Vegas amid another lost year.
“I don’t know that I believe the last part,” Florio said. “I think he’s stuck, and he got paid and you know, if they’re not going to trade him, it’s not useful for him to start making it known he doesn’t want to be there.”
Crosby’s commitment to the Raiders seemed ironclad after inking a lucrative three-year, $106.5 million contract extension in the offseason, binding him to the franchise until 2029. Yet that massive deal hasn’t shielded him from trade chatter, especially as Las Vegas teeters on the edge of irrelevance in the AFC West.
Florio, however, argues that Crosby isn’t the type of cornerstone asset teams refuse to entertain offers for, suggesting a blockbuster proposal could still sway the front office.
“I still don’t believe Crosby falls into that category of untouchable players,” Florio added. “And I think a sufficient offer would potentially get their attention. We’ve seen this before. We know how it goes. You don’t get maximum value for a player if you tell the world we want to trade the player. You have to be coy. You have to create a market. You have to maximize through negotiation what you get. That’s what we’re thinking. I’m thinking it’s possible. I’m not saying it will happen. I just don’t believe the denial. I don’t think he’s an untouchable player.”
Through seven games this season, the 28-year-old has notched 28 tackles, four sacks, one interception, and five passes defended—numbers that underscore his value as a disruptive force on the line.
A product of Eastern Michigan University, Crosby burst onto the scene after the Raiders snagged him in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. In his debut year, he wasted no time, racking up 10 sacks and cementing his reputation as an elite edge rusher.
Over his career, Crosby has eclipsed double digits in sacks three times, peaking with a career-high 14.5 in 2023. Even in an injury-shortened 2024 campaign, where he appeared in just 12 contests, he delivered 45 tackles and 7.5 sacks.
For Crosby, the frustration in Las Vegas is palpable. The Raiders’ 2-5 record leaves them firmly on track for yet another postseason absence, a recurring theme that’s tested the patience of their top talent. With the trade deadline looming, the question lingers: Will the Raiders hold firm, or could a contender’s aggressive bid upend everything?
For now, the official line is no deal—but in the NFL, that’s rarely the final word.
