The Las Vegas Raiders did what they had to do against the New York Giants in Week 17 and lost. They now control the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
In the process, they may have alienated star defensive end Maxx Crosby. The team made the decision to shut him down for the season due to a knee injury. However, he didn’t agree that he needed to sit out.
According to FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer, Crosby was not happy with the decision and could reassess his commitment to the franchise. If he wants to be traded, the Raiders will have no shortage of suitors.
Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report put together some trade ideas. One of them was sending Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens for a 2026 first-round pick, a 2027 first-round pick and wide receiver Rashod Bateman.
“Baltimore has logged just 28 sacks as a team, and no Ravens defender has recorded more than four,” Knox wrote. “Adding Crosby to the mix would help the Ravens return to being a legitimate threat in the AFC. As part of the deal, Baltimore could send wide receiver Rashod Bateman to Las Vegas.
“… Bateman, a 26-year-old former first-round pick, would help strengthen Las Vegas’ receiving corps and help support whichever quarterback the Raiders bring in next.”
This Trade Could Make Some Sense for Raiders
The Raiders likely don’t want to trade Crosby, but if he asks out, this offer is about as good as it gets. Las Vegas gets two first-round picks and a former first-round pick wide receiver.
Now, Bateman hasn’t lived up to his draft status, but he can be a productive wide receiver when healthy. The Raiders’ wide receiver room is so thin right now, so he’d be an upgrade.
However, the biggest selling point is the two first-round picks. The Raiders are rebuilding, as they have a roster devoid of talent. The best way to find talent is through the first-round of the draft.
The Raiders tried this before when they traded away Khalil Mack for two first-round picks, but that didn’t work out. It’s a different front office in place now, so perhaps they could be more successful with the extra picks.
Will Raiders Trade Crosby Even if He Doesn’t Want Out?
This isn’t the first time Crosby has been mentioned in trade rumors. The team has been bad for years, so there’s been a lot of speculation that he could get traded.
The Raiders have been adamant about keeping him, but the roster seems to be two to three years away from being able to compete. Crosby is going to be 29 at the start of next season, so his timeline might not match the Raiders’.
The only thing that would make keeping Crosby logical is if the team does get the No. 1 pick and they take a quarterback that they’re very confident can turn the franchise around. They might not want to leave the quarterback without some talent around him. In that scenario, the Raiders might want to keep Crosby for another year to see if they can accelerate the rebuild.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Trade Proposal Has Raiders Send Maxx Crosby to AFC Foe for Draft Haul & WR appeared first on Heavy Sports.