The Las Vegas Raiders found a keeper in defensive end Maxx Crosby in 2019. Although the East Michigan standout played at a high level in his rookie campaign, his production dipped last season. However, he’s poised to rage in 2021.
Chris Roling of Bleacher Report believes Crosby is a likely candidate to break out this upcoming season. He points out that the defensive end had a solid rookie year. However, he thinks this could be his best year yet. In 2020, opposing teams doubled-teamed him because the Raiders didn’t have anybody else. This will now be more difficult with free-agent additions Yannick Ngakoue and Solomon Thomas in the lineup.
A fourth-round pick, Crosby was a runner-up for the Defensive Rookie of the Year award, logging 47 total tackles, 16 tackles for a loss, and ten sacks. He also forced four fumbles but the award ended up going to Nick Bosa of the San Francisco 49ers. Last season, the defensive end dealt with a myriad of ailments. He should be fully healthy in 2021, which should help him get back on track.
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This is going to be a key year for the Raiders and Maxx Crosby
The Raiders need to know who the real Crosby is. Was he a one-year wonder, or is he a part of their long-term plans? He will be in a prime position to succeed in 2021 and has an incentive to play at a high level this upcoming season. The team hasn’t been afraid to reward players that perform at a high level after their third year in the league. Just recently, they made Kolton Miller one of the best-paid tackles in the league.
Before that, guard Gabe Jackson and quarterback Derek Carr also got lucrative contract extensions, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see Raiders give Crosby a new contract if he plays the way he did in 2019. Jackson’s no longer with the team but that’s beside the point. The team’s brass saw him as a building block and compensated him accordingly. They could do the same with Crosby after this season.
While Ngakoue’s addition was nice, the Raiders will also need Crosby to step up his game. It’s a bit too early to tell, but it looks like the team’s pass-rush will improve significantly in 2021.
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