Maxx Crosby has long been a fan favorite amongst Raider Nation. However, in 2021, he became one of the best players in the NFL. Let’s take a look at his landmark 2021 season with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Taking his game to new heights
From the moment he was drafted, Crosby has been beloved by Raiders fans. While he has a fun personality off the field, on the field he has always been a force to be reckoned with. Crosby was well-known in the NFL after recording seventeen sacks in his first two seasons. However, it was clear from the first game of the season that this would be a special year for Crosby. In Week 1, against the Baltimore Ravens, Crosby delivered a signature performance with two sacks and five QB hits as he and the Raiders defense harassed Lamar Jackson all night.
As was often the case this season, the box score did not always show his impact, as the sack numbers weren’t always there. So while he didn’t have a sack from Week 2 to 5, he did have eight quarterback hits in that time frame. In Week 6, however, despite playing only 69% of the snaps, he had a three-sack game against the Denver Broncos. Then came an eight-week stretch without a sack. Regardless, the pressures kept piling up for Crosby as he was simply getting unlucky at times. Then came his greatest performance. On Sunday Night Football, in a play-in game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Crosby took over the game on defense. As Justin Herbert attempted to keep his team alive, Crosby registered eleven pressures, two sacks, and four QB hits.
Maxx Crosby is a superstar.#NFL | #RaidersNationpic.twitter.com/KjNVgEUnuB
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) January 15, 2022
A year to remember
Crosby’s final stat line included eight sacks, which were the second-most in his career. He had 30 quarterback hits as well, which was more than double his previous career-high. Most impressive were his 101 quarterback pressures, which were good for the most in the NFL. As mentioned, while the gaudy sack numbers were not there, Crosby made his presence known in every game. For his efforts, he was named a Pro Bowler for the first time in his career and was selected as a second-team All-Pro.
Most QB Knockdowns This NFL Season:
1. Maxx Crosby 19
2. Micah Parsons 17
2. Myles Garrett 17
2. Chandler Jones 17
14. Yannick Ngakoue 12#RaiderNation— Raider Nation Boston (@RaiderNationBOS) January 12, 2022
After a season like that, the Raiders have a surefire superstar on their hands. As such, priority number one for the new regime will be extending Crosby’s contract as his contract is up in 2022. With a projected market value of $13.9 million per year, the former fourth-rounder is about to become a very rich man. After all he went through off the field, Crosby was the 2021 Raiders’ best player.
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*Top Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images