Maxx Crosby was supposed to be the missing piece for the Baltimore Ravens after the Las Vegas Raiders agreed to trade him to the AFC North team for two first-round picks in March. Instead, Crosby failed his physical, and the Ravens backed out of the deal.
The Raiders star now finds himself right back where the 2025 season left him, surrounded by questions about his future in Las Vegas.
Maxx Crosby Motivated to Silence His Critics
Almost seven months removed from the surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his knee, Crosby returned to full-team practice on July 29 at the Raiders’ training camp. Although the condition of his knee still draws skepticism, the trade rumors involving him haven’t stopped.
The failed physical raised legitimate concerns about Crosby’s long-term durability. Despite that, there’s a possibility that he might not finish the upcoming season with the Raiders, as some teams will likely pursue him before the trade deadline.
Crosby, however, is motivated to silence the growing concerns about his health and whether he can continue to perform at an elite level in the years to come.
“Of course, there’s added motivation,” Crosby said. “It’s beautiful at the same time. I love being doubted. I love being told I can’t do something because I’ll go to the end of the world to make it happen.”
“It’s a blessing, man,” Crosby said about being able to play after his injury. “I love this game. I heard all the noise and all those things, but everyone knows that when my back’s against the wall, that’s when I’m at my best. I love the pressure. That’s what I live and thrive on. It’s just added points and gives me a little more reason to go out there and whoop (expletive).”
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Even with the knee concerns, Crosby’s 2025 production told the story of a player still operating at an elite level. He recorded 10 sacks, 28 tackles for loss, 73 total tackles, and his first career interception across 15 games, earning his fifth consecutive Pro Bowl selection.
According to PFN’s EDGE Impact Metric, Crosby posted an impact score of 89.3, ranking fifth at his position. He was the highest-rated run defender in the league with a grade of 99.0.
Given the Raiders’ current trajectory, however, Crosby’s fit in Las Vegas is somewhat questionable. The franchise is expected to start the season with Kirk Cousins, with Fernando Mendoza potentially becoming a starter later in the season. It means that the Raiders are not ready to contend yet, and the 28-year-old pass rusher will be a much better fit on a team that is ready to make a run for the Super Bowl.
The Raiders can set up well for the future by recouping some draft assets in return for Crosby, like they intended to do while trading him to Baltimore.
Although he might not fetch the same value as earlier, a team like the Dallas Cowboys, who are rumored to be still interested in him, could certainly look to trade at least one first-round pick to acquire him and improve their chances of winning the Super Bowl.
