The Las Vegas Raiders are rebuilding, and the most important decision ahead is whether that process can realistically succeed while Maxx Crosby is still at the peak of his career.
Crosby remains one of the league’s most relentless pass rushers and the emotional core of the franchise, but time is not on the Raiders‘ side.
If the front office believes contention is still several seasons away, the logic of converting a premier talent into draft capital becomes harder to ignore. If the belief is that the turnaround can happen quickly, then Crosby is the type of cornerstone few teams willingly move.
That tension has come into sharper focus as the offseason settles in and speculation grows around the league. With Crosby‘s name circulating, former Raiders defensive lineman Reggie Kinlaw was asked directly what the organisation should do with its star edge rusher.
“I mean, Maxx is a great player,” Kinlaw told Vegas Sports Today in a video published on January 31. “I live here. He’s good in the community. Everybody loves him. He’s a franchise player. He’s going to be the face of the of the franchise. If [Fernando Mendoza] comes, Mendoza got to work his way up to be the face of the franchise. If Maxx wants to go, I can understand that. All right.
“This guy’s got the winning mentality in his head. He’s 100 percent. He goes full speed every play and he wants to win. I mean, you know, hey, personally, I ain’t never been on a losing team. And I can understand if he wants to go somewhere and start winning, but I think if he just hang in there for a couple of years, we get this show on the road starting this year.”
Outside voices push trade scenarios as Crosby’s value peaks
Despite the noise, there is no confirmed indication that Crosby is seeking a move or that the Raiders are actively shopping him. Still, his production and motor make him a natural target for teams looking to add an immediate difference maker, and some around the league are already connecting dots.
One of the most notable suggestions came from Bay Area radio, where Mark Willard argued that the San Francisco 49ers should pursue Crosby if the opportunity arises.
“If you want the big ticket out on the market, whether it’s free agency or trade name, that I would be obsessed with if I were a 49ers fan, and I am, it’s Maxx Crosby,” Willard said on January 26 on 95.7 The Game. “If you could circle one player that’s a proven player, and you could find a way to make him a Niner, that’s my guy, Maxx Crosby.”
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