Maxx Crosby has built a reputation as one of the NFL‘s most relentless defenders, terrorizing quarterbacks and dismantling offensive lines since his arrival in the league. But even one of the top pass rushers in football has his list of opponents who are, in his words, a real pain to deal with on the field.
The Las Vegas Raiders‘ defensive cornerstone recently shared his thoughts during a segment with NFL on CBS, where he was asked to blindly rank the quarterbacks he finds most “annoying” to play against. Unsurprisingly, several names from his own division came up immediately.
“Any quarterback in our division, they’ve got to be 1A, 1B, 1C,” Crosby said with a smirk, referring to the steady stream of talent he faces in the AFC West. Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert landed in the number two spot on his list, a nod to both Herbert’s ability and the frequent matchups the two have had.
Mahomes still haunts Crosby and the Raiders
Crosby placed Denver Broncos rookie Bo Nix in the third slot, a curious inclusion considering Nix has yet to play a snap in the NFL. Still, Crosby clearly sees potential in the young passer-or perhaps is just preparing for the inevitable AFC West headaches to continue.
The fourth name mentioned was Joe Burrow, quarterback of the Cincinnati Bengals. “He’s cold, ice cold,” Crosby said with clear respect for Burrow’s calm under pressure and knack for big plays.
But when it came time to crown the most frustrating quarterback he’s ever tried to bring down, Crosby had no hesitation: Kansas City Chiefs superstar Patrick Mahomes topped the list.
“Me and him have a great rivalry,” Crosby explained.
That rivalry, however, has not exactly tilted in Crosby’s favor. Mahomes holds a dominant 12-2 record against the Raiders since becoming Kansas City’s starter. Crosby has sacked him six times, but Mahomes has consistently found ways to make plays even when under heavy pressure.
Their battles have become regular highlights of the AFC West schedule, and while Crosby relishes the challenge, the results have not been kind to Las Vegas.
Rounding out the list was Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens, whose dual-threat ability makes him one of the toughest quarterbacks to prepare for. His elusiveness and dynamic skill set are enough to give any defender nightmares, even someone of Crosby’s caliber.
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