Once deemed a financial impossibility, the elite Raiders pass rusher is reportedly back on San Francisco’s radar as the front office weighs draft capital against a Super Bowl-caliber upgrade.
When several teams were trying to pry Maxx Crosby away from the Las Vegas Raiders, the San Francisco 49ers were reportedly not among them. The price tag was simply too high.
“I don’t think the 49ers were ever in the mix to trade for Maxx Crosby at any point just because he’s so expensive,” NBC Sports Bay Area reporter Jennifer Lee Chan said on YouTube.
Lee Chan said this five days ago. Apparently, the circumstances may have changed.
At least, that's how it seems.
Longtime Raiders insider Hondo Carpenter revealed that San Francisco actually is in on Crosby, alongside the Niners' NFC rival, the Philadelphia Eagles.
“I am telling you there is a lot of interest in Maxx Crosby,” Carpenter said on the Las Vegas Raiders Insider. “Two teams specifically are nuclear hot: the Eagles and the 49ers.”
Based on what the Baltimore Ravens gave up before Crosby's failed physical sent the star edge rusher back to Vegas, the Raiders' asking price appears to be either two first-round picks or a first and second-round pick.
That's steep, especially for a player coming off a torn meniscus. As the Niners' roster is currently constructed, barring any significant injuries, it doesn't make sense for San Francisco to give up the assets outlined above to bring Crosby to the Bay Area.
New defensive coordinator Raheem Morris already has Nick Bosa on one side and impressive rookie Mykel Williams on the other. Why sacrifice potentially important future draft capital to improve a strength?
Now, if GM John Lynch were to explore the deal closer to the NFL's trade deadline, that's a much different situation. By that point, the Niners will have a better idea of what they are in 2026. If a Crosby trade makes sense to strengthen San Francisco's title hopes, then negotiations should take place.
But as for right now? It just doesn't make sense.
And that's even accounting for the Los Angeles Rams' blockbuster addition of Myles Garrett. It's important to remember that the Rams infamously don't have much of an attachment to draft choices, as history shows.
Los Angeles also doesn't struggle mightily with injuries to its stars on a regular basis, a reality that has unfortunately plagued San Francisco. Hence, the importance of the Niners' future picks that should be used to replace aging stars who are unable to stay healthy.
If the price comes down and San Francisco looks like a legitimate contender, go for it. But unless both of those things happen, Crosby simply isn’t the smartest investment for a team with other priorities to address.
