Las Vegas Raiders star Maxx Crosby was shut down for the final two games of the season and left the team facility afterward, and that very public frustration has quickly turned into a new question online: could Crosby eventually wind up with the San Francisco 49ers?
It’s not a report of trade talks. It’s the kind of end-of-season “pressure moment” that fuels them, especially when a cornerstone player is unhappy, the team is struggling, and the internet starts connecting dots.
Key details (what we know today):
- Raiders coach Pete Carroll said Crosby’s knee “looks too bad,” and Crosby left the facility after hearing he wouldn’t play.
- Crosby was ruled out for Week 17 vs. the New York Giants as Las Vegas sits at 2-13.
- FOX Sports reported Crosby “vehemently disagreed” with being shut down and that the situation “could lead to questions” about his future in Las Vegas.
- Crosby is under contract through 2029 after signing a three-year, $106.5 million extension in March, per FOX Sports.
Raiders Shut Down Maxx Crosby, and the 49ers Idea Shows Up Fast
Crosby has built his reputation on playing through pain, so the optics of him being sidelined — and then walking out — landed like a siren online.
Reuters reported Carroll told reporters the team’s medical evaluation made the decision unavoidable, even if nobody liked it.
That’s where the “49ers” angle enters. Fans on social media immediately started pitching San Francisco as the dream landing spot: a marquee defense, a win-now window, and a franchise that’s always hunting edge-rush help.
Some media voices have floated the concept before, too. A Sports Illustrated 49ers column earlier this year pointed to Crosby’s comments about enjoying the Bay Area and used it to raise the question of whether San Francisco could be a logical fit if the Raiders ever considered moving him.
Again: none of that equals a trade request. But the timing of Crosby’s shutdown — and his reaction to it — is exactly the kind of catalyst that keeps “Crosby trade” chatter alive into January.
What It Would Mean for the 49ers, and the Raiders
For San Francisco, the appeal is obvious: Crosby is a proven, high-motor, every-down edge who can wreck games. Even in a season where he played through a knee issue, Reuters noted he still posted 73 tackles and 10 sacks in 15 games.
Crosby has built one of the most productive resumes of any edge rusher in football since entering the league in 2019: through 110 career games, he’s totaled 69.5 sacks, including multiple double-digit sack seasons, and he’s become a fixture on the AFC honor rolls with five straight Pro Bowl selections (2021–2025) and two Second-Team All-Pro nods.
For Las Vegas, the complications are just as obvious.
First, Crosby isn’t on an expiring deal. FOX Sports noted his March extension runs through 2029, which means any trade conversation starts with major contract math, not just draft picks.
Second, the Raiders’ own messaging matters. The team has framed this as a health decision, not a punishment, not a benching, not a breakup. Reuters also reported Crosby downplayed draft-pick implications and said he’s focused on being “the best defensive end in the world.”
That’s why the most realistic version of this story is an offseason “watch list,” not a “this is happening now” situation.
Why This Is a Story to Watch Going Into 2026
The Raiders’ season context is the accelerant. They’re 2-13, on a nine-game losing streak, and headed toward the kind of offseason where everything gets questioned.
Crosby’s very visible frustration gives this a second life beyond one injury report. If he speaks again, if the Raiders comment on his status after the season, or if national insiders tie his name to a contender, that’s when the “49ers” buzz could shift from fan-driven to sourced reporting.
Follow-up angles to watch next:
- Any end-of-season press conference comments from Carroll or Raiders leadership about Crosby’s future
- Any report tying specific teams (like the 49ers) to exploratory calls
- Crosby addressing the shutdown publicly after the season ends
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