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(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Las Vegas Raiders edge Maxx Crosby dominated headlines early in the NFL offseason. Many believed that the Raiders would consider trading the veteran pass rusher, and they ultimately did.

The Raiders dealt Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens for two first-round picks. However, the 28-year-old failed a physical, leading to the trade falling through and Crosby returning to the Silver and Black.

Despite speculation on whether Las Vegas would consider trading Crosby before the draft, that didn’t happen, and all signs point to him starting the 2026 season with the Raiders. Nonetheless, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer shared his thoughts on the player’s future.

“I’d say there’s a very, very high percentage chance that Maxx Crosby starts the regular season with the Raiders, and I think everyone’s intention is for Crosby to settle back in as a leader and (they hope) an early torchbearer for Klint Kubiak’s new program,” Breer wrote in his May 6 mailbag article.

“There’s also the reality that Baltimore’s decision to back out did have a chilling effect on Crosby’s trade value. The Ravens are a well-respected organization, so when they do something like this, that’s so unusual, it’s going to reverberate with other teams.”

Even with the Raiders being one of the worst teams in the NFL last season, Crosby posted a 79.7 overall PFF defensive grade. The veteran generated 53 total pressures as a pass rusher along with 10 sacks, 31 hurries, and 12 hits. Meanwhile, he was equally impressive against the run as he recorded 46 solo tackles and one forced fumble.

Albert Breer Could See Calls Coming for Maxx Crosby Later This Year

While Crosby looks to be starting the season with the Raiders, how the team performs could determine the trade speculation around the pass rusher leading up to the deadline later this year.

The Silver and Black are in a rebuild, but if they are competitive and hovering around a Wild Card spot, any Crosby trade talks will be nonexistent. However, if Las Vegas struggles out of the gate, then expect the rumors to spark up again.

“I don’t think anyone can say where things will go next, and it’s not hard to imagine a shift,” Breer added. “Let’s say, through eight games, the Raiders are struggling, at 2–6 or 1–7, and Crosby has nine sacks.

“At that point, GM John Spytek and Kubiak won’t have to do anything. Calls will come. Will they be receptive? It’s hard to project that far out. I don’t think it’d be smart to close the door on anything down the line, though.

“Crosby is too good a player not to have a shot at reestablishing the value he had in March, and the Raiders are still very much in a rebuilding phase. So stay tuned.”

Raiders Could Protect Maxx Crosby to Keep Him Fresh

Speaking of Crosby and it has nothing to do with trade speculation, Raider Nation Radio host Q Myers believes the Silver and Black could look to protect Crosby from himself. The player will turn 29 before the 2026 season starts, and it will be important to start keeping him fresh as he ages.

As a result, Myers believes that with the arrival of Keyron Crawford, whom the team drafted No. 67 in the 2026 NFL Draft, Las Vegas could rotate him in for Crosby at times.

“I think in Year 1, [Crawford is] a good rotational piece,” Myers said on the May 1 edition of the “Raiders Squad Show.” “He’s a guy who can pin his ears back, get after the quarterback, and keep those edges fresh, which is what you want.

“I also think you’re going to see Maxx Crosby taking some plays off. I don’t think you’ll see him out there for 100 percent of the snaps this year. That would be reckless at this stage of his career. You want to keep him as healthy as possible. So overall, I think [Crawford is] a rotational piece.”