The Las Vegas Raiders are once again approaching an offseason filled with questions about leadership, roster construction, and the long‑term direction of the franchise. That instability has reignited speculation around the future of All-Pro pass rusher Maxx Crosby, with trade rumors once again bubbling to the surface.
One of the teams mentioned as a potential landing spot is the Detroit Lions. The idea of pairing Crosby with Aidan Hutchinson is undeniably enticing, but Hutchinson himself has poured cold water on the possibility, suggesting the chances of it becoming reality are slim.
Aidan Hutchinson Downplays Maxx Crosby Trade Speculation
The Lions’ defense finished 14th in PFSN’s Defense Impact Metric, with Aidan Hutchinson leading the team in sacks at 14.5. Adding Maxx Crosby to that unit would be a significant boost, potentially elevating Detroit into elite territory, and Hutchinson is well aware of how dangerous that pairing could be.
“It just sounds right,” Hutchinson said. “…in the event that it did happen, that would be so dangerous. Me and Maxx, have a great relationship, I’d love to play with him.”
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Hutchinson went on to explain that the mutual respect between the two pass rushers is genuine, noting they’ve stayed in touch and exchanged messages over the years. However, despite the intrigue, he made it clear that a trade to Detroit remains unlikely.
“The likelihood of him coming to Detroit is high? No, just given with the amount of guys that they have to pay. In a dream world, though, it sounds really good, and it sounds right, which I’m all for.”
Crosby’s relationship with the Raiders deteriorated late in the season after the team shut him down for the regular-season finale. League insiders believe he could request a trade this offseason, and Detroit Lions on SI has reported that Detroit would be Crosby’s preferred destination if he were made available.
That said, acquiring Crosby would require a king’s ransom. Las Vegas would likely demand multiple premium assets, including players and future draft picks, a steep price for a Lions team facing its own financial realities. Detroit also has several key players eligible for extensions this offseason, making such a move even more difficult to justify.
On the field, Crosby continues to perform at an elite level. This season marked the fourth time in seven NFL seasons that Crosby has at least 10 sacks. He continues to make a huge difference when he’s on the field, despite injuries and his age starting to catch up to him.
Despite the fact that he missed Week 17, Crosby’s 73 tackles, including 10.0 sacks, one interception, two forced fumbles, and six defensed passes, have him ranked No. 2 in our PFSN EDGE Impact Metric, earning a grade of 95.2.
