Speculation has been mounting for years now, but is this the offseason where those Maxx Crosby trade rumors come to fruition? After all, the Las Vegas Raiders have hired yet another new head coach, one who’s never done the job before.
Meanwhile, Crosby has made the playoffs just once in his seven-year NFL career. He’s also set to play for his fifth different head coach (six if we count interim Rich Bisaccia). After a 3-14 season that saw the Raiders tell Crosby to go home when he was nursing an injury instead of allowing him to play as he wanted, there are once again rumblings that a Crosby trade could happen this offseason.
Recently, Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer predicted that Crosby’s time with the Raiders is done. If so, which teams should trade for the five-time Pro Bowl pass-rusher?
Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys have indicated that they’re prepared to make a big trade, and aside from getting Micah Parsons back, we can’t imagine a better target than Crosby. The 28-year-old is a proven game-wrecker, compiling double-digit sacks in four of his seven seasons of play. Plus, the Cowboys are eager to improve their pass-rush, and what better way to do so than by adding one of the best defenders in the NFL?
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New England Patriots
Crosby has reportedly already made it known through league channels that he’d like to play for Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel. It’s not known if he made these comments this year or in the past, but we’d imagine that desire has only grown since the Patriots secured a Super Bowl bid. The Patriots drastically improved their roster from last offseason, but they could become even more consistent with the addition of one of the NFL’s best pass-rushers.
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Chicago Bears
The Bears went into last offseason looking to address their weak offensive line. They quickly turned a weakness into a strength by making multiple additions. This time, the Bears could focus their attention on fixing a pass-rush that finished with the NFL’s fourth-fewest sacks. If so, adding a consistent Pro Bowl pass-rusher like Crosby could make a big difference in Chicago.
San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers’ best pass-rusher, Nick Bosa, was limited to just three games last season, so it’s no surprise San Francisco ranked dead-last in the NFL with just 20 sacks. Yet, even with Bosa out, the rest of the unit should have been able to perform better. With Crosby in town, teams would face tough decisions over which elite defender they should double-team, which should boost the production not only of Crosby and Bosa, but also the rest of the defense too.
Detroit Lions
Another landing spot for a Crosby trade could be back home in Michigan with the Lions. They’ve been far more competitive than the Raiders with Dan Campbell leading the charge, reaching the postseason in two of the past three years. Plus, imagine how tough it would be to face Aidan Hutchinson plus Crosby on the same defensive line? That’s a group no one would want to face.
