Aaron Donald and Jared Allen are not wrong to ask the question. They are wrong about the answer.
Both NFL legends raised legitimate concerns this week about whether Maxx Crosby can genuinely recommit to the Las Vegas Raiders following the collapse of his trade to Baltimore. The awkwardness argument is intuitive on the surface—a deal was agreed upon, a destination was set, and then the whole thing unraveled publicly. Donald said he would feel uncomfortable returning to that building. Allen questioned whether the chemistry can realistically be rebuilt.
What both men left out is the part that actually matters: Crosby asked for the trade. The Raiders didn’t push him out—they worked with him, found a partner, and got back two first-round picks. When Baltimore backed off over medical concerns, that didn’t create the situation—it just left it unresolved.
And that difference is everything when you’re trying to understand where things really stand between Crosby and the Raiders.
Maxx Crosby has since been unambiguous…
He has publicly stated he is meant to be a Raider, pointed to the organization’s coaching changes and free-agent activity as reasons for renewed optimism, and—critically—stopped short of doing something he refused to do before the trade was agreed upon: declare openly that he wants to stay. He is doing that now. That shift should not be dismissed as noise.
His value to this franchise remains staggering regardless of how the offseason drama resolves. Over the past four seasons, according to Pro Football Focus, Crosby has accounted for 33% of the Raiders’ total sacks and 27% of their pressures. He recorded double-digit sacks last season for the fourth time in his career and led the league in tackles for loss in consecutive seasons in 2022 and 2023. No other defender on this roster comes close to replicating that production.
Could frustration resurface if Las Vegas stumbles in 2026? Absolutely. Could the Raiders revisit the trade market if the right offer emerges? Nothing is off the table. These are honest qualifications worth acknowledging.
But the premise that Crosby has reason to resent this organization—that trust has been broken, that the foundation is cracked—does not survive scrutiny. He wanted out. They let him go. It fell apart through no fault of either side.
Raider Nation has seen enough real problems. This is not one of them.
*Top Photo: Ramble Illustration/Getty Images