It’s that time of year again. The offseason rumors about Maxx Crosby’s future are already gaining steam. This time, though, the chatter carries more weight. With the Las Vegas Raiders sitting on a top-two pick in the NFL draft, the franchise has a clear path to a full reset if it chooses it. And “strained” is a fair word for how the relationship between Crosby and the Raiders’ decision-makers is being described.
Raiders fans would hate to see their star pass rusher leave. Crosby has been the face of the defense and, for stretches, the identity of the team. His presence has also mattered beyond the stat sheet, serving as a selling point for players who liked the idea of lining up with “The Condor” in Las Vegas.
Still, a trade would bring significant draft capital and give the Raiders a cleaner runway to build around a rookie quarterback and a younger core. That is the logic, even if it is a painful one.
If the Raiders do move Crosby, the next question becomes unavoidable: Who replaces him?
Addressing EDGE rusher through the NFL Draft
There are two blue-chip prospects at edge in this class. Ohio State’s Arvell Reese brings the kind of versatility teams covet, drawing comparisons to Micah Parsons because he can win in multiple alignments. Rueben Bain Jr. is a quick, slippery rusher, though scouts continue to flag his short arms as a limitation. Either way, both are expected to come off the board early.
That is the problem for Las Vegas. Using a premium pick on an edge defender could effectively take the Raiders out of the quarterback market, undercutting the very reason a top-two selection matters.
If the Raiders are serious about finding their quarterback of the future, the cleaner approach is to target pass-rush help on Day 2. That is where the value often lives, and there are candidates worth tracking from major programs: Tennessee’s Joshua Josephs, Oregon’s Matayo Uiagalelei and Alabama’s LT Overton.
It also fits the history. Crosby was not a high draft pick, either. The Eastern Michigan product was a fourth-round selection who outplayed his slot and became a franchise cornerstone.
Trey Hendrickson: Rewarding the veteran with a payday
It is no secret the Cincinnati Bengals have been reluctant to pay Trey Hendrickson. After multiple rounds of talks, the team has not committed to him long-term. As a result, he is on track to reach unrestricted free agency in 2026.
Hendrickson is playing on a one-year, $29 million deal, but his next contract may not come with the same price tag. With his market shaped by age, leverage and Cincinnati’s stance, the numbers could settle below that top-of-market figure.
Despite posting more than 17 sacks in both 2023 and 2024, the veteran slipped to seven in 2025. He will also be 32 next season, an age that typically shortens a team’s comfort level on the contract length.
That combination points to a deal with fewer guaranteed years, even if the annual value remains strong.
Khalil Mack: The return of “Mack Attack”
Pairing a former Defensive Player of the Year with Maxx Crosby would be the ideal outcome, but even a lesser move could steady the ground. If Crosby is dealt, Raiders fans will be furious. The quickest way to quiet the backlash is simple: bring back the player many never wanted to see leave in the first place.
Khalil Mack still has the résumé and the skill set to affect the quarterback. But a return would be about more than pressures and sacks. For a fan base that still feels the sting of his departure, repairing that relationship runs deeper than football.
Even so, a Crosby trade is not the preferred route. His value is massive on and off the field, and he has been the captain-level voice in the locker room year after year. If he is no longer a Raider, however, Las Vegas will have to pivot—and it will have options.
*Top Photo: NBC Sports