Maxx Crosby trade rumors have followed the Las Vegas Raiders star for years now. This offseason feels different because, for the first time, there’s an actual price tag attached. You can thank the Baltimore Ravens and their botched trade for that, by the way.
According to Vincent Bonsignore of the California Post, the San Francisco 49ers are considering a “suitable offer” that includes a first-round pick in 2027, a second-round pick in 2028, and second-year edge rusher Mykel Williams. With a league-leading $72 million in salary cap space, the 49ers are well-positioned to accommodate Crosby’s $30 million salary.
The 49ers aren’t the only ones interested in Maxx Crosby…
Sports Illustrated’s Hondo Carpenter said the Philadelphia Eagles and 49ers are “nuclear hot” for Crosby, with two or three other teams also engaged. Former NFL linebacker Bart Scott went further on ESPN’s “Get Up,” predicting Eagles general manager Howie Roseman will pull off a deal built around defensive end Nolan Smith, mirroring the trade that sent Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams.
That Garrett trade is the catalyst. With the Rams loading up and the Seattle Seahawks fresh off a Super Bowl win, the NFC has no margin for error, and the 49ers reportedly view Crosby as their answer to stay in the arms race.
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The most telling detail isn’t the suitors. It’s the shift in how the Raiders view Crosby. Carpenter said Crosby isn’t “untouchable” to Raiders management the way he was last season, pointing to a previously botched trade to the Ravens as evidence this has been brewing for a while.
Crosby hasn’t shut down the speculation. When a young 49ers fan made a viral pitch trying to recruit him, Crosby’s response was simply, “You never know.”
He’s also been open about his recovery from a torn meniscus. If the Raiders have any hesitation about a soon-to-be 29-year-old edge rusher coming off a significant injury, that could factor into a decision either way.
This doesn’t mean a trade is imminent. But the reported framework, multiple serious suitors, and a front office that no longer views Crosby as untouchable have made the speculation feel more real than ever.
*Top Photo: Getty Images