Patriots Eye Crosby Trade
The New England Patriots are reportedly targeting Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby for a potential trade this week, according to Albert Breer. The move would be a major acquisition for the Patriots' pass rush as they look to rebuild their defense.
Any potential deal for Maxx Crosby would be a blockbuster, as the defensive end just signed a three-year, $106.5 million extension with the Raiders in March 2025. That deal, which included $91.5 million guaranteed, briefly made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the entire league. Crosby is a four-time Pro Bowler who has recorded at least 10 sacks in each of his last three seasons. In 2023, he amassed a career-high 14.5 sacks, 90 total tackles, and led the league with 23 tackles for a loss, earning him a third consecutive second-team All-Pro selection. The interest from New England stems from a need to bolster a pass rush for a team in a rebuilding phase. The Patriots finished the 2023 season with a 4-13 record, ranking 31st in points scored but a more respectable 15th in points allowed. Rumors of Crosby's availability are tied to reported friction within the Raiders organization. Reports from last month suggested Crosby had become "mentally detached" from the team, and that more than a quarter of the league had inquired about his trade availability. The asking price for a player of Crosby's caliber is expected to be steep, potentially costing the Patriots multiple first-round draft picks. For a rebuilding Las Vegas team that finished 4-13 in 2024 and has numerous roster holes, a trade could provide the draft capital needed to accelerate their own reconstruction.
