Since making his NFL debut in 2019, Maxx Crosby has improved each season, which has been evident in his four Pro Bowl selections.
It wasn’t easy, as he had to play for four different coaches; however, he gave the team his full effort each week. Still, winning matters to Crosby, and it has been anything but that for the star edge-rusher during his career in Las Vegas. The Raiders have gone 43-57 with one playoff appearance in 2021. Now entering his seventh season, he’s hoping to see success, this time with Las Vegas head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Spytek.
Trade talks surrounding Crosby caused an uproar among fans, but the Raiders see him as a vital part of their plans. In return, Crosby felt hope, especially after meeting with Carroll following his news conference in early January. In a piece by ESPN’s Dan Graziano, he noted that the Raiders treat him as their “franchise cornerstone.”
“An extension that moves Crosby in line with the other top edge rushers in the NFL is probably the correct solution,” Graziano wrote. “And even with the Raiders under new management for the second offseason in a row, I’d expect them to treat Crosby like the franchise cornerstone that he is and get that extension done. He had 7.5 sacks and 43 pressures over 12 games in 2024.”
Crosby deserves an extension after totaling 59.5 sacks since being drafted in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Spytek and Carroll must do what it takes to add pieces in free agency beginning March 12.
Crosby will need help from his other side. Malcolm Koonce, who missed the 2024 season because of a training camp injury, is an unrestricted free agent and could bolt and join another team. Koonce provided help for Crosby in 2023 when he had eight sacks. Las Vegas must bring in another star pass-rusher to help him, and some are available, such as Khalil Mack, Haason Reddick, Chase Young and Josh Sweat. Spytek has a knack for identifying key pieces to the roster, as he did in Tampa Bay when the Buccaneers went to the playoffs four times since 2020.
Keeping Crosby is the best decision for the Raiders. He wants to win, and given Carroll and Spytek’s track record at their previous stops, there’s no reason why success can’t be achieved with the Raiders, especially with their star leading the defense.
