Pro Football Focus, which showcases the league’s top talent, recently featured two elite players from the Las Vegas Raiders on a prominent list. Say what you want about this past season’s struggles, but the Silver and Black do have some stellar pieces to build around.
What did PFF have to say about these 2025 Raiders?
You wouldn’t guess that a team picking No. 1 overall in the upcoming NFL draft would have much talent. However, that’s not the case with the Raiders. The fact is, new incoming head coach Klint Kubiak will have quite a few promising players to build his team around. Two of those contributors were highlighted in PFF’s “Top 101 Players from 2025” countdown. Of course, we’re referring to perennial Pro Bowl pass rusher Maxx Crosby and former All-Pro tight end Brock Bowers.
Crosby isn’t going anywhere despite all the conjecture making its way around the media this offseason. To trade away the face of your franchise at this current juncture would be disastrous. Even if wear and tear is catching up a bit to No. 98, his on-field impact is difficult to replicate. As PFF noted, Crosby still ranks the near top in terms of quarterback pressures despite his controversial “benching” in the last phase of the season.
“He still ranked 14th at the position in PFF overall grade (79.7). Through Week 16, when he took his final snaps of the season, Crosby had notched 53 quarterback pressures, tying him for the 20th most among edge defenders.”
As for Bowers, the second-year standout saw a dip in his production, though there were some factors that played against him. For one, Geno Smith was his quarterback, enough said, right? Then, you also have some injury concerns that slowed him down. Nonetheless, PFF spotlighted Bowers’ sheer talent and ability to make an impact despite all of this.
“…Bowers was once again one of the most productive tight ends in the NFL. He finished his second season with an 82.2 PFF receiving grade and ranked seventh at the position with a 1.70 yards per route run average.”
Bowers will play a pivotal role in Kubiak’s offense this upcoming season and, barring health setbacks, he’ll regain his All-Pro stature he was awarded as a rookie. In case you’re wondering, he came in at No. 73 on the list. Not bad, all things considered. As for Crosby, he was slightly higher at 69.
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