Although Maxx Crosby has repeatedly denied wanting to leave Las Vegas, the rumors persist. Recently, a well-known insider claimed that league executives consider the star defensive end’s departure nearly certain and even have his destination in the NFC South.
The 2025 season was not easy for Crosby. The Raiders were the third-worst team in the league, finishing the season with a 3-14 record, and the sixth-year defensive end couldn’t even finish the campaign.
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A knee injury in Week 16 led the front office to bench him for the last two games, despite the player insisting he could play. As expected, Crosby didn’t take it well.
Although it seems the player and the team have made amends, The Athletic insider Dianna Russini recently reported that Crosby is looking for greener pastures.
Crosby is reportedly headed to Florida
In a recent article, Russini stated that the Raiders tight end “would be highly interested in pursuing a change of scenery.” Specifically, he’s looking for a contender.
While several teams are reportedly interested in signing Crosby, including Detroit, Dallas, and San Francisco, ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler believes the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the perfect destination for him.
According to Fowler, “This is the type of move that would put Tampa Bay over the top.” Last season, the Buccaneers fell just short of the playoffs, and a reinforcement like Crosby could be what they need to take that final step.
Crosby said in recent days that these kinds of rumors just make him laugh. However, he didn’t completely deny his departure from the team. Moreover, the math seems to favor a trade.
Trading Crosby benefits the Raiders
The five-time Pro Bowler is only entering the second year of the three-year contract he signed in March 2025:
- Total Extension Value: $106.5 Million
- Guaranteed Money: $91.5 Million
- Average Annual Value: $35.5 Million
- 2026 Cap Hit: $35.88 Million
- 2026 Base Salary: $30 Million
However, the contract is structured in such a way that if the team trades Crosby before the 2026 season, the majority of the cost would go to the acquiring team, leaving Las Vegas with only $5 million in dead cap.
This kind of salary cap space would allow head coach Klint Kubiak to get off to a good start in rebuilding the team.
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