One team that would certainly look to acquire Las Vegas Raiders star Maxx Crosby is the Washington Commanders—they’re starving for sacks and No. 98 would help. It would make sense considering that Commanders general manager Adam Peters is looking to maximize his roster while Jayden Daniels is on his rookie deal.
The Commanders are in prime position to make a run next season despite what’s taken place this year. Daniels’ injury raises some concerns but assuming he makes a full, healthy comeback, head coach Dan Quinn could easily have his team back in the postseason. To do so, they need to address the lack of pass-rushing prowess. Your squad is in serious trouble if Von Miller, now 36 years of age, leads your defense with eight sacks.
Peters will likely look to reload the defense as fast as he can before the day comes that he has to back up the Brinks truck for Daniels. If that’s truly the case, Raiders general manager John Spytek would then capitalize on this need to flip Crosby before his value falls off. Crosby’s “iron man” reputation is beginning to catch up with all of that wear and tear on his knees. He’s not going to get younger and by all means, it appears that the perennial Pro Bowler might no longer be on board with Spytek’s vision.
What would a trade for Maxx Crosby look like?
In this scenario, the Commanders would send their first-round pick, a top ten selection, to the Raiders in exchange for Crosby. They’d also have to send their third-round choice next year as well. The Raiders would then have two top ten picks to begin reshaping their team as they see fit. Assuming that they have the No. 1 or 2 pick, you’d hear either Fernando Mendoza’s name or Dante Moore when it’s all said and done.
But then what?
Raiders Mock Draft—First Round: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana + David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey is the kind of prospect who seduces a fanbase starved for juice off the edge. The numbers alone read like a lab-engineered pass rusher: elite first-step explosion and the type of weight-room absurdity that lands you on Bruce Feldman’s Freak List. Add violent hands, a deep counter menu, natural zone awareness, and a relentless motor, and it is no surprise some evaluators have floated him inside the top 10.
But that projection skips the real issue—especially for a Raiders team that needs sturdy trench play, not just highlight traits. For all the athletic fireworks, Bailey’s run defense lags behind. His frame still invites questions, his lower half lacks true anchor, and he too often slips around blocks instead of fighting through them. That is not a technique flaw alone; it is a play-strength concern. And in the NFL, the edge is not a part-time role. If you cannot survive early downs, you are a designated hitter in a league that punishes one-dimensional
Bailey wins now because he is simply the better athlete on the field. That changes on Sundays. Winning with a plan, converting speed to power, and holding gaps matter far more than raw twitch. He can develop—his ceiling is real.
For the Raiders, the question is simple: do you draft tools and trust the coaching, or chase certainty in a draft class offering very little of it?
*Top Photo: Getty Images