The Las Vegas Raiders could be headed for an NFL offseason full of changes in 2026, and that could include the departure of star pass rusher Maxx Crosby.
Will Maxx Crosby Find A New NFL Home In 2026?
According to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, league sources have begun to openly question Crosby’s long-term fit in Las Vegas after a turbulent close to the 2025 season. At the heart of the drama was a controversial decision by the Raiders to shut down Crosby for the final games of the season due to a lingering knee injury, which was done against Crosby’s wishes.
For the first time, league sources believe the Raiders would be open to moving Maxx Crosby this offseason.
The relationship between the two sides remains strained after the five-time Pro Bowler was shut down for the season: https://t.co/umvZZLtpZF pic.twitter.com/q9COsQwW22
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) January 3, 2026
That clash of wills culminated with Crosby reportedly leaving the Raiders facility after being told he wouldn’t play, leaving many to wonder if the relationship between the franchise and its five-time Pro Bowler has fractured beyond repair.
While Crosby has yet to request a trade publicly, the friction has emboldened some around the league to believe that Las Vegas could be open to moving their cornerstone pass rusher this offseason if the issues persist. That’s a dramatic change from late 2025, when the team firmly stated it did not plan to trade Crosby.
Part of the motivation is financial and roster dynamics. Crosby signed a lucrative three-year, $106.5 million extension before the 2025 NFL season that keeps him under contract through 2029, but his deal becomes relatively trade-friendly in 2026 due to minimal dead cap implications. That makes him an attractive target for contenders seeking an immediate impact edge rusher.
Despite Las Vegas’ disastrous 2025 campaign, some franchise insiders still believe retaining Crosby could anchor a future rebuild. Others counter that acquiring valuable draft capital by moving Crosby might better accelerate retooling.
Teams like the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, and Detroit Lions have already been mentioned as potential suitors should the Raiders truly consider a move.
Crosby played in 15 games in 2025, and notched 10 sacks while recording his first career interception.
