Heading into Week 17, the Las Vegas Raiders decided to shut Maxx Crosby down for the rest of the 2025 NFL season. It’s a decision that Crosby disagreed with as he battles through a nagging knee injury, and he reportedly left the building soon after being informed of the decision.
With a 2-13 record as of this writing, the Raiders are one of the worst teams in the league. They’re a strong contender for the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and though additions like Pete Carroll, Geno Smith, and Ashton Jeanty provided some optimism going into the year, it’s clear they’ve fallen far short of expectations.
What Does Jay Glazer Have for the Raiders Fans?
As Jay Glazer speculated, questions surrounding Crosby’s tenure in Las Vegas have already begun to swirl since the news broke. The Raiders’ lack of success since drafting him in 2019 looms large, and it’s especially prevalent heading into a game against the New York Giants that’s widely dubbed the “Tank Bowl”.
Scoopage: Raiders told Maxx Crosby they want to shut him down last two games. Crosby, who has played with injuries for much of the year, vehemently disagreed and has left the building @nflonfox has learned. This could lead to questions on his future in Vegas
— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) December 26, 2025
Crosby signed a three-year extension with the Raiders in March of 2025, so he’s under control for a while still. Should Las Vegas trade him, they would take on roughly $5.1 million of dead cap space, freeing nearly $30.8 million in cap space in the process.
These five teams would make the most sense as potential landing spots for the five-time Pro Bowler.
Washington Commanders
Heading into the 2026 NFL offseason, the Washington Commanders rank fifth in the league with nearly $82 million in cap space. That financial flexibility comes at a perfect time, as they’ve fallen far short of expectations in 2025 with a 4-12 record, just one year after making the NFC Championship with a 12-5 record.
One of their most significant weaknesses has been their inability to generate a pass rush. Save for Von Miller, who’s much more of a stop-gap option at 36 years old, none of the Commanders’ defensive linemen have more than six games with one game remaining in the season.
Dorance Armstrong has outplayed his modest sack totals with an EDGE Impact grade that ranks ninth in the NFL, but nobody else on Washington ranks in the top 85. Once the Commanders get the likes of Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin fully healthy, an addition like Crosby could help propel their roster to new heights.
It would be surprising if they gave up on playoff contention just two years after being one game away from the Super Bowl. If they want to really go all-in, a massive splash like Crosby could get them there.
New England Patriots
The turnaround of the New England Patriots has been one of the biggest surprises of the 2025 NFL season. Finishing 4-13 just one year ago, they’re 12-4 now and enter Week 18 in the driver’s seat of clinching the AFC East. Perhaps even more dangerous is the fact that they still have over $47 million in cap space this offseason.
New England’s edge-rushing duo of Harold Landry III and K’Lavon Chaisson has been a pleasant surprise in 2025, as the two have combined for 15 sacks. Chaisson is a free agent after this season, however, and betting on career-best numbers after a relatively mediocre NFL career could be a risk that the Patriots are unwilling to take.
Crosby would be a massive step towards further legitimizing the Patriots’ defense. Their unit currently ranks 14th in PFSN’s Defense Impact scoring, and that’s without a true superstar rushing off the edge. New England has the need and the finances to make a Crosby trade work, and such a move would undoubtedly make them a bigger threat in the AFC.
Chicago Bears
Of the five teams on this list, a Crosby trade with the Chicago Bears would require the most financial adjusting.
They currently have just over $1 million in cap space for 2026, which is a far cry from the cap hit of over $30 million they’d take by trading for the star edge rusher. Cap space can be incredibly flexible, though, and if there’s one thing holding the Bears back currently, it’s a lack of four-man pass-rushing consistency.
Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen has been able to dial up some pressure with blitzes from defensive backs and linebackers, but the defensive line isn’t getting the job done.
Heading into Week 17, their 204 pressures generated trail only the Carolina Panthers for the fewest in the NFL. That comes despite pricy free agent additions like Dayo Odeyingbo and Grady Jarrett this past offseason.
Parting with players like DJ Moore or Cole Kmet, as well as restructuring a few contracts, could help the Bears afford Crosby in a trade. Similar to Khalil Mack back in 2018, Crosby could be just what Chicago needs to get over the hump.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Throughout the 2020s, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have maintained a stranglehold on the weak NFC South division. With improvement from the Panthers and the Buccaneers losing six of their last seven games, however, the latter now finds themselves in second place in the division and on the outside looking in on the postseason.
Granted, injuries have played a significant role in Tampa Bay’s regression in 2025. That said, Haason Reddick hasn’t been as impactful an addition as they had hoped this past offseason, and nobody on the team has more than six sacks through 15 games.
The Buccaneers have enough cap space to take on Crosby’s contract without having to move anything around. When healthy, they have a very talented team with impact players on both sides of the ball. Trading for Crosby could give them the game-changing star on defense that they currently lack, bringing them back up near the top tier of the NFC.
Seattle Seahawks
With two games left in their season, the Seattle Seahawks have a 12-3 record. They’re not only in first place in the NFC West, but they currently hold the top speed in the entire conference, and if they beat the Panthers in Week 17, they’ll be tied for the best record in the NFL. Now imagine how good they’d be with Crosby on their defense.
The Seahawks have a decision to make regarding the impending free agency of edge rusher Boye Mafe. He’s been productive in the past, but he’s taken a step back, with just one sack through 15 games this season.
Seattle gets production from defensive tackles Byron Murphy II and Leonard Williams, but they don’t have a proven long-term option off the edge yet. Though DeMarcus Lawrence made the Pro Bowl this year, he’s a stop-gap option who turns 34 in April.
Crosby has reached double-digit sacks in three of his last four seasons, with the only exception being an injury-shortened 2024. He’s one of the best edge rushers in the NFL, and if the Seahawks trade for him, they’d separate themselves as the heavy favorites to win the NFC Championship in 2026.
