Raiders' Maxx Crosby Is Back and More Motivated Than Ever

Maxx Crosby came very close to leaving the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason. The Raiders had agreed to trade their star defensive end to the Baltimore Ravens, but the deal fell apart at the last minute. Now Crosby is back at Raiders training camp, healthy, and ready to prove he is still one of the best pass rushers in the NFL heading into the 2026 season.

The trade collapsed because Crosby failed his physical exam with Baltimore. Doctors had concerns about his knee, which had meniscus surgery back in January. The Ravens canceled the trade just hours before the new NFL league year began, and Crosby had to fly back to Las Vegas. It was a sudden and surprising end to what seemed like a done deal.

But the failed trade appears to have made Crosby even hungrier to succeed. CBS Sports analyst Bryant McFadden watched Crosby at training camp and was impressed by what he saw. McFadden said the whole situation seems to have given Crosby a newfound sense of motivation to show the entire NFL that he is still among the game's elite players. "He is a tone setter. Everything starts and stops with Maxx Crosby," McFadden added.

Crosby has been a key player for the Raiders ever since they drafted him in 2019. In that time, he has earned five Pro Bowl selections and two All-Pro honors. He also ranks third all-time in Raiders history with 69.5 career sacks, which is a remarkable achievement for a player still in his prime.

His overall numbers tell the story of a dominant defender. Across 110 games, Crosby has racked up 439 combined tackles, 133 tackles for loss, 164 quarterback hits, and 11 forced fumbles. Those statistics place him among the most productive edge rushers the NFL has seen in recent years.

This season, Crosby will have more help around him on defense. The Raiders added linebackers Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker, cornerback Taron Johnson, and several new defensive backs through the draft. One of those draft picks is second-round safety Treydan Stukes, who is expected to strengthen the back end of Las Vegas's defense.

The offense is also looking stronger for the Raiders in 2026. Running back Ashton Jeanty will have a full year of experience under his belt, and tight end Brock Bowers is healthy again. The team also selected Fernanzo Mendoza with the first overall pick in the draft and hired offensive-minded head coach Klint Kubiak to lead the team in a new direction. With all these pieces coming together, the Raiders look like a squad ready to make a serious leap forward.