Maxx Crosby is perhaps the biggest name on the NFL trade market entering the offseason. The Las Vegas Raiders star has been an elite EDGE rusher with an ultra-high motor and proven sack production throughout his career, but on the brink of his 29th birthday, the Raiders are finally coming to the realization that they have too many holes to win with him still on the roster.
A year ago, Crosby signed a $106.5 million extension with Las Vegas that includes $91.5 million in guaranteed money. There’s going to be a lot of teams interested in a great player at a premium position, and that gives the Raiders quite a bit of leverage heading into trade negotiations. The Dallas Cowboys were reportedly close to a deal until rival teams put more chips in, according to former ESPN reporter Trey Wingo.
Wingo reports the Cowboys are now trying to go after Cincinnati Bengals free agent EDGE Trey Hendrickson. Hendrickson is a very good player as well, and he only costs money. Then again, Dallas will likely have some serious competition for his services when the free agent market opens later this month.
The Raiders are setting the bidding at two first-rounders for Crosby, and the Cowboys are balking. Will any team meet that asking price?
The Chicago Bears have been rumored to be in the Crosby derby, and they just picked up more draft compensation in the form of the No. 60 overall pick after dealing D.J. Moore to the Buffalo Bills. The Philadelphia Eagles have to wait to trade A.J. Brown, but they are another team rumored to also be in the market for Crosby. The New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens could also be in the mix, and who knows if there’s a surprise team.
Maybe the Bears don’t want to meet that asking price either after recent comments from Adam Schefter:
The big question is whether Crosby is still worth two firsts at this point, or if he’s already starting to fade.
Only a contender is going to want Crosby, because he’s at the end of his prime, and also because the picks out the door will inevitably (or hopefully?) be later in the draft with him on the roster. The Raiders are reportedly increasingly open to moving Crosby. It really feels like this is going to happen, and the Raiders can hold out as long as they need to for the best offer.
The Cowboys, Bears, and others would love to add Crosby to the roster. Is he really still worth two firsts, though?
