Former Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden urges the Buccaneers to pursue Raiders star Maxx Crosby, drawing parallels to historic Super Bowl-winning defensive moves.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers know they can't afford to have another season like the one they had in 2025.
Getting a superstar at any position would go a long way toward doing that, and Maxx Crosby of the Las Vegas Raiders fits that criteria at defensive end.
Crosby has twice been a second-team All-Pro and is still in his prime at 28.
A man who has been the head coach of the Bucs and Raiders before-- even coaching Crosby for his first three seasons in the league-- thinks the Bucs should make a play for Crosby, but that the Raiders would be "one of the dumbest franchises in America" if they trade him.
A trade would be the only way Tampa or anybody else could acquire Crosby, since the Raiders have him under contract until the end of the 2027 season.
But Jon Gruden thinks the Bucs should make a run at it.
"He's under contract, and he's the best player on the team," Gruden told The Drive w/TKras Thursday. "I think he's arguably the most impactful edge rusher in football. Absolutely. I think that's a winning edge that a great defense has. It's a fourth-quarter pass rush."
Gruden then cited an example from Bucs history that shows that this type of move can help a team win a Super Bowl.
Before the 2001 season, the Bucs acquired Simeon Rice, who had been a second-team All-Pro with the Arizona Cardinals.
In 2002, Rice was a first-team All-Pro, being one of the best players on one of the best defenses in NFL history and, most importantly, helping Tampa to its first Super Bowl.
The difference here is that Rice was a free agent, and Crosby isn't.
Gruden pointed out that, to get Crosby, Tampa would have to channel a much more recent transaction: The Green Bay Packers acquiring Micah Parsons from the Dallas Cowboys.
That trade cost Green Bay two first-round picks plus a three-time Pro-Bowl defensive tackle in Kenny Clark.
The price for Crosby might not be as steep, considering Crosby is more than two years older than Parsons was at the time of the trade, but it wouldn't be cheap, either.
"Perhaps Jason Licht can swing a deal to get a great rusher," Gruden said of the team's general manager.
Gruden also mentioned that the Bucs could look in the draft for an edge rusher, and said that, in any case, this should be a priority for the Bucs.
The Bucs finished tied for 18th of 32 teams in sacks; the Raiders were 32nd, the worst team in the NFL.
As with most superstar players, Crosby being traded is something that most football fans will only believe when they see. But it's hard to argue that Tampa shouldn't think about it.
ㅤ
Join the Community! Don't miss out on our ROUNDTABLE community and the latest news! It's completely free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.
Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!