The Las Vegas Raiders are in the driver’s seat for the No. 1 draft pick in the 2026 NFL Draft heading into their Week 18 game against the Kansas City Chiefs on January 4 at Allegiant Stadium.
All the Silver and Black need to do is lose to the Chiefs, and they’ll be picking at the top of the draft board, which could mean selecting Indiana Hoosier quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
Before their Week 17 game against the New York Giants, the Raiders shut down Brock Bowers, Jeremy Chinn, and Maxx Crosby, though he didn’t take that decision well.
Nonetheless, ESPN reporter Brooke Pryor shared what the Raiders’ ownership, including Tom Brady, is thinking as they head into their final game of the 2025 NFL season.
“[Raiders] ownership [is] telling the coaching staff and the players that they want the No. 1 overall pick above all else,” Pryor said in a video posted by ESPN on December 30. “”… Things have not gone well, but it leaves you with a sour taste in your mouth.
“If you’re one of those Raiders players that is hearing from ownership, ‘Look, we don’t want you to win. It is better for us if you lose, and then we can focus on the future,’ especially because there are definitely guys in that locker room that are not a part of the Raiders’ future equation.
“They don’t really care about the future, but Tom Brady and those owners, they would like to win. They would like to have that No. 1 overall pick when the draft is in Pittsburgh, just in a couple of months.”
Maxx Crosby Breaks Silence on Raiders Situation
One player, whom the Raiders will need to figure out how to massage the situation, is Crosby. The veteran pass rusher didn’t take too well to being shut down for the final two games.
Speculation about his future has been widespread, but Crosby addressed the rumors directly on “Let’s Go!” with Jim Gray. However, he didn’t indicate anywhere that he intends to remain a Raider next season, fueling the rumors.
“I’m honestly doing phenomenal,” Crosby said in a video posted by SiriusXM NFL Radio on December 30. “I’m here at the facility. I have a lot of thoughts and emotions, but I’m focused on putting the work in and being with my teammates. At the end of the day, I love being with my guys. That’s it. I’m just going to leave it at that. I’m doing great, though. Happy. That’s all I can say.”
Raiders Predicted to Keep Maxx Crosby for Next Season
Despite all the speculation and cryptic words from Crosby, former Raiders CEO Amy Trask does not believe the Silver and Black will move from the pass rusher this offseason.
“I love you [Raiders] fans, I always will, so I share this with the hope it may alleviate some concern: I believe it to be unlikely that [Crosby] will seek to leave the team, given his business relationships with [Raiders minority owner Tom Brady] and [Jim Gray] that extend beyond the field, ” Trask wrote on X on December 29.
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