The Buccaneers enter the 2026 offseason with questions across their roster and around their head coach, who is beginning to feel pressure amid significant turnover on his coaching staff. Sometimes, desperate offseasons lead to big swings. One ESPN story outlined a trade that would deliver an immediate boost to Tampa Bay’s roster and potentially vault the franchise back to the top of the NFC South.
ESPN Proposal Links Tampa Bay to Maxx Crosby
In ESPN’s piece, NFL writer Ben Solak crafted a proposal that would send Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby to Tampa Bay in a blockbuster deal.
The suggested framework would send Chris Godwin Jr., the No. 15 overall pick in the 2026 draft, and a 2027 second-round pick to Las Vegas. In return, the Buccaneers would receive Crosby and a 2027 fifth-round selection.
The logic is straightforward. Tampa Bay has struggled for years to consistently generate pressure off the edge. The franchise has not had a player reach 10 sacks in a single season since Shaquil Barrett in 2021. Crosby has cleared that mark in four straight seasons and remains one of the league’s most disruptive defensive players.
Even in a year cut short by injury, Crosby produced 10 sacks in 15 games and earned his fifth Pro Bowl selection in 2025. He ranked second in PFSN’s Edge Impact Metric and has twice led the NFL in tackles for loss. Over the past two seasons, he has maintained All-Pro form despite Las Vegas losing 27 games.
From a financial standpoint, the move would not be crippling for Tampa Bay. Crosby signed a three-year, $106.5 million extension last offseason. For the Raiders, moving him would result in a manageable $5.1 million dead-cap hit while saving more than $30 million, per OverTheCap. For the Buccaneers, the acquisition would represent a clear signal that the franchise is prioritizing immediate contention.
Crosby turns 29 before next season and is coming off knee surgery after being shut down late in 2025. Tampa Bay would be betting that his prime still has multiple elite years remaining and that pairing him with their current defensive core could shift the balance in the NFC South.
What It Would Cost Tampa Bay
The inclusion of Chris Godwin Jr. adds another layer to the proposal. Godwin played in just nine games last season, finishing with 33 receptions for 360 yards and two touchdowns. Over the past two years, he has appeared in only 16 games, raising legitimate durability concerns as he enters his tenth NFL season.
At his peak, Godwin has been a dependable chain-mover and physical presence in the slot. However, availability has become part of his profile. Sending him to Las Vegas, along with a first-round and second-round pick, would be an aggressive price to pay.
From Tampa Bay’s perspective, the calculus centers on impact. Crosby remains an elite-level disruptor. The Buccaneers have cycled through pass rush solutions without finding a consistent answer. A move of this magnitude would represent a declaration that stabilizing the defense is the fastest route back to the top of the NFC South.
