The trade that fell apart. That was one of the biggest storylines of the NFL offseason, when Maxx Crosby was on the verge of leaving the Las Vegas Raiders for the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for two first-round picks.
However, fate had other plans, as the Ravens eventually backed out of the deal, and the 28-year-old is eager to move on from the failed trade. But that might be easier said than done, especially after NFL insider Mike Florio refused to close the door on another potential move.
Could the Raiders Still Trade Maxx Crosby?
It all came down to a failed physical. The Ravens withdrew their offer for Crosby, who was in the early stages of recovery after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus.
Multiple doctors felt it was not worth gambling on the defensive end’s left knee, despite him being a viable short-term option. Now, Florio has claimed that the Michigan native’s future could still lie away from the Raiders.
“I still think he’s potentially a guy who can be traded,” Florio said. “I’m still keeping an eye on that possibility. Teams are looking for pass rushers. It would be ironic if, when they traded him at a time when he wanted out, the trade didn’t work out. So now he’s back and wants to stay, and they may trade him again.”
The NFL insider went on to say, “It could be presented to him at some point. ‘Hey, Maxx, we know you want to stay here, but the Bears are making us an offer that we’re not inclined to refuse.’ I think it would be easier for Maxx Crosby to talk himself into going from the Raiders to the Bears than it was for Jared Verse to talk himself into going from the Rams to the Browns.”
As things stand, the Cowboys, Bills, Bears, and Patriots would be the most likely destinations for Crosby should the Raiders decide to trade him. All four teams are in need of an impact pass rusher and were linked to the 28-year-old before the Ravens deal collapsed. The Cowboys could be the most likely destination, especially if offseason acquisition Rashan Gary fails to perform.
The Cowboys also made an offer for Crosby, but it was turned down. However, the Raiders could choose to hold on to the 69.5-sack pass rusher as well. Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak is building his team around No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza, which means they will need a formidable defense to complement the offense.
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Meanwhile, Crosby has claimed that he is “almost back” to being healthy enough to fully participate in practice. Kubiak has even said that he is “counting on” Crosby being back for training camp in July and has not ruled out the possibility of the defensive end recovering ahead of schedule. Having spent seven years with the Raiders, Crosby wants to leave no doubt about where his allegiance lies.
“Everyone knows my love and appreciation for this organization,” Crosby said. “That never changed from day one. That’s part of the business. There’s a lot of other things that don’t need to be discussed. But ultimately, I’m exactly where I want to be.”
Perhaps talk of a potential move away from the Raiders will only gain momentum once Crosby gets back on the field and proves he is healthy, which could happen in August or even later. By then, however, all parties involved may choose to maintain the status quo, with Crosby spending his eighth NFL season with the Raiders.
