Las Vegas Raiders star pass rusher Maxx Crosby is handling the trade talk the same way he handles everything else. He is not panicking but he’s not making big promises just to calm people down, either.
At a dinner in Las Vegas honoring his Commitment to Excellence award, Crosby told fans that there is always going to be noise. Outside the building, inside the building, everywhere. His message was simple: put the work first, lead by example, and your teammates will speak louder than the outside chatter.
That sounds like the Crosby everyone knows. It also does not end the conversation.
Why won’t Maxx Crosby shut down the rumors?
The reason that the conjecture keeps hanging around is timing. The Raiders are heading toward the draft with the No. 1 pick and a chance to take Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza. That looks like a new chapter. At the same time, Crosby is still the biggest name on the roster and the biggest trade asset if the team decides the rebuild needs more fuel.
The late-season injured reserve move is where everything truly really started. Crosby did not like it. The team did it anyway. He still needed knee surgery, and he has spent much of the offseason recovering. Now he is posting updates showing progress. He said he is off crutches and walking again. That is good news for the Raiders if they keep him.
It is also good news for any team that might be interested, because it removes the first question that always comes up in trade talks. Is he healthy?
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The Raiders want No. 98 on the team…
General manager John Spytek has said he expects Crosby to be on the roster. That is what a team is supposed to say. It protects leverage and it keeps the locker room steady. But reporters like Diana Russini have pointed out something that feels obvious. If we’re being honest, none of this is fully settled until Crosby publicly shuts the door on it, and the way last season ended left enough frustration for people to keep wondering.
So here is the real issue Las Vegas has to answer. Is Crosby the cornerstone of the next Raiders team that actually wins, or is he the high-value piece that could bring back multiple picks to speed up the rebuild?
Fans want a clear statement. The front office wants control of the timeline. Crosby is giving you what he always gives you. Work. Leadership. Love for the game.
He is not giving you certainty yet. And that is why the noise is not going away.
*Top Photo: Ramble Illustrations/Getty Images