Over the offseason, the Las Vegas Raiders made personnel decisions for a quick turnaround, such as hiring a 74-year-old Pete Carroll and trading for veteran quarterback Geno Smith. However, amid their 2-5 record, it’s becoming clear that fixing the Silver and Black might require long-term decision-making.
As a result, could the Raiders start making decisions on players and coaches that don’t fit the timeline of a long-term rebuild? On October 21, a report from Trey Wingo emerged regarding Maxx Crosby being on the trade market heading into the NFL trade deadline.
One team needing a pass rusher is the Dallas Cowboys, who traded Micah Parsons right before the 2025 NFL season. Whether or not the Cowboys can put together an offer in the offseason to convince Crosby to head to Dallas remains to be seen, but former NFL punter Pat McAfee would like a deal to get done in the future.
“[Crosby] looks so cool,” McAfee said on the October 21 edition of “The Pat McAfee Show.” “He would be a cool Cowboy. That would be a very cool Cowboy. And Jerry Jones goes, ‘This [explative] guy’s available.‘
“Remember, I said, ‘Hey, I got these picks now. You never know what’s going to happen. People never think I’ll bring in another pass rusher. Same, a little bit older maybe. Actually, this guy, he’s already been paid. This guy’s a little bit older.
“Nobody would expect cheaper, too. Nobody would expect me to give up a couple first for that. Boom. Then Magic Man does it again. Look at the lamb man pulling this thing off. Maxx Crosby now is getting to the quarterback.’”
Maxx Crosby Won’t Be Traded Before the Deadline
Despite their 2-5 record and potential interest from teams like the Cowboys, the Raiders aren’t willing to offload probably their most significant asset on the team.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and Jane Slater have reported that the Raiders’ leadership met with Crosby and assured him he won’t be traded. Crosby has emphasized that his main goal is to win, but he’s also made it clear that he wants to be part of building a winning culture in Las Vegas.
It will be interesting to see if the Silver and Black or the player have this same stance in the offseason. Nonetheless, there’s a potential opening for a rival team to present an offer with multiple picks to lure Crosby away, especially if the Raiders finally understand that they need a long-term rebuild rather than anything short-term.
Should Las Vegas Consider Trading Maxx Crosby?
Trading Crosby would likely bring the Raiders a hefty return, at a minimum two first-round picks. At 28, he is an All-Pro talent who has been putting up impressive numbers despite limited support around him. Placing him on a defense with other impact players could push those numbers even higher.
Nonetheless, any long-term decision on Crosby will depend on what the Raiders intend to do with Carroll. A rebuild doesn’t fit his timeline and if that’s the path the franchise takes, then securing assets should be a priority. It will be interesting to see how this season plays out and its impact on the Raiders heading into 2026.
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