The Las Vegas Raiders have made it perfectly clear: Captain Maxx Crosby isn’t going anywhere… Period.
Amid a flurry of changes – including a new head coach, general manager, and quarterback – the Raiders took a firm stance to retain their franchise cornerstone, inking Crosby to a massive three-year, $106.5 million contract extension just ahead of free agency.
But keeping Crosby wasn’t as straightforward as it may seem.
According to TheMMQB’s Albert Breer, multiple teams aggressively pursued the star edge rusher prior to the deal, sensing an opportunity with the Raiders under new leadership.
“Other teams, given the regime change, were inquiring,” Breer revealed. “Seattle proposed a deal that would send Geno Smith and DK Metcalf to Vegas for Crosby. The Buffalo Bills and Washington Commanders checked in, too. The Raiders rebuffed that interest, showing Crosby their resolve.”
Breer had previously teased Seattle’s interest just before Metcalf was traded to the Steelers.
The Seahawks’ attempt to offload both Smith and Metcalf to Vegas came before the Crosby extension was finalized – and before Vegas ultimately acquired Smith for a third-round pick and flipped Metcalf to Pittsburgh for a second.
Raiders general manager Jon Spytek wasn’t swayed.
Turning down the Seahawks’ blockbuster proposal was a bold move that emphasized just how central Crosby is to the team’s future.
Buffalo and Washington’s interest in Crosby wasn’t casual.
Both teams fell one game short of the Super Bowl this year – losing to longtime rivals – and were looking to make a statement in 2025.
Crosby, a relentless pass rusher capable of making life miserable for quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts, would have done exactly that.
Instead, the Raiders locked him up, and now those teams are left exploring other options.
The Bills have already made moves, releasing veteran Von Miller in a cap-saving decision. That money will help fund the record-breaking extension for newly crowned MVP Josh Allen.
Washington, meanwhile, also lost a key piece this offseason – veteran defensive lineman Jonathan Allen. Injuries plagued Allen throughout 2024, and his departure leaves a massive void in the Commanders’ front seven.
While rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels is the focal point of Washington’s rebuild, finding a game-wrecking defender remains high on their wish-list.
With Crosby and Browns star Myles Garrett both off the trade market, options are dwindling.
Regardless, the Raiders made their intentions clear: No matter who called, Maxx Crosby wasn’t for sale.
And in doing so, they sent a message to the rest of the league – this new regime isn’t interested in rebuilding from scratch. They’re building around dominance.
What are your thoughts on Breer’s report? … Did the Raiders make the right decision by locking up Crosby???
