For a while now, it's been hard to gauge definitively whether or not Maxx Crosby will be traded at some point this offseason. On one hand, Crosby is surely a bit frustrated with how things have gone with the Raiders in recent years.
Crosby has lost, and lost some more with the franchise despite barely ever taking snaps off and cementing himself as one of the best pass-rushers in the NFL. Not only is Crosby elite at what he does, but he plays one of the most important positions in the league.
With the new league year beginning right around the corner, we could see a bit of a trade market develop for the Pro Bowler, and on Monday, NFL insider Albert Breer dropped a bombshell news update that could shake up the league for years to come.
Maxx Crosby could be on his way out of the Las Vegas Raiders
Albert Breer dropped a bit of a bombshell this morning on a potential Crosby trade happening:
"I’d lean toward a Maxx Crosby trade happening, and maybe this week. But there’s going to have to be some needle-threading. I don’t think the Raiders want to go through the song-and-dance of shopping him, nor do I believe Crosby wants it advertised that he’s looking for suitors, given his bond with owner Mark Davis, and his view of himself as a Raider.
So what would be the cleanest for everyone is for a market to emerge organically. And that could happen, given that most teams are going to start spending to their cap and cash budgets, and filling roster spots a week from now.
Vegas, to be sure, isn’t going to give Crosby away. I also believe, though, that it’d be difficult to find the haul that the Raiders got for Khalil Mack eight years ago, or what Dallas got for Micah Parsons last year, or what the Dolphins received for Laremy Tunsil in 2019. All of those guys were traded for packages fronted by two first-round picks. All of those guys were also much younger, nearing the ends of their rookie deals...
We should know soon enough which path the Raiders are taking, with teams like Dallas, Chicago, Baltimore, Buffalo, New England, Philadelphia and the Rams keeping tabs on his availability."
Based on this report, Breer seems relatively confident that a trade could happen soon. He also goes on to mention previous big-player trades and that Crosby's value might not be quite as high. Right now, a trade for a first-round pick and a player could be what the Raiders end up getting, but what kind of trade packages could the Raiders hope to get? Let's create three of them with the team's Breer has listed.
Maxx Crosby trade packages after Albert Breer's bomshell update
Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears receive: EDGE Maxx Crosby
Las Vegas Raiders receive: 2026 1st-Round Pick and WR DJ Moore
The first package sees the Chicago Bears giving up a first-round pick and DJ Moore for Crosby. It does seem like Moore is on the way out one way or another, as Chicago needs the cap space, and with the Bears bringing in a stellar rookie class on the offensive side of the ball, Moore does become the odd man out here.
The Raiders would get a quality WR1 for their likely new quarterback, Fernando Mendoza, and the first-round pick they'd also receive could be used to further address the offense or even add to the defensive line with Crosby no longer in the picture.
The Bears are clearly in a win-now mode after a breakout NFC North-winning season in 2025. Chicago adding Crosby would give them a massive boost to a defensive line that desperately needs it.
Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens receive: EDGE Maxx Crosby
Las Vegas Raiders receive: 2026 1st-Round pick and WR Zay Flowers
The second package is a similar deal, but the Raiders might prefer this one, as Zay Flowers is a younger, better player than Moore and would best line up with the long-term vision. Flowers has over 3,000 yards across his first three seasons in the NFL, finishing with a career-high 1,211 yards on 2025. Flowers would need a long-term deal, but adding him to an offense that already features Ashton Jeanty and Brock Bowers would give Vegas a trio of stellar playmakers for Mendoza's arrival.
New England Patriots
New England Patriots receive: EDGE Maxx Crosby
Las Vegas Raiders receive: 2026 1st-Round Pick and 2027 2nd-Round Pick
The New England Patriots definitely outperformed their sheer roster talent in 2025, but that is not a bad thing. The Pats need a game-changing addition on both sides of the ball this offseason, and Crosby could give them one of those additions.
In this final trade package, the Raiders actually get two draft picks, a first-rounder in 2026 and a second-rounder in 2027. At the end of the day, draft picks is what the Raiders might covet the most. New England wouldn't really give up too much of their future draft capital given how elite of a player Crosby is.