The Las Vegas Raiders seem likely to trade star edge Maxx Crosby and need a star receiver to pair with projected No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza.
Despite the organization’s desire to keep star defensive end Maxx Crosby on the team, the Las Vegas Raiders are more likely to trade the two-time All-Pro.
The disgruntled veteran has expressed wanting to play for a winner as well as staying in Las Vegas, but with the team entering a rebuild and shutting him down at the end of the season despite wanting to play, it seems like that relationship is strained.
Crosby hasn’t requested a trade, and the Raiders don’t have to trade him if they don’t want to, but it makes the most sense to trade him before the draft to recoup as much value as possible. Given he has battled injuries over the last two seasons, and he turns 29-years-old in August, the trade return might not be as great as the Raiders are hoping it will be.
Initial reports suggested that the Raiders would be seeking a similar return or better than what the Dallas Cowboys received for star edge rusher Micah Parsons, but ESPN’s Bill Barnwell pointed out the differences between the two and why that probably isn’t plausible.
“Parsons was a 26-year-old at the end of his rookie deal and had three top-three finishes for Defensive Player of the Year,” Barnwell wrote Monday. “Crosby is two years older, is coming off back-to-back seasons impacted by injury and has never been a first-team All-Pro or finished higher than fourth in DPOY balloting.”
Crosby is obviously a great impactful player and among the best at his position, but stuff like this can influence a possible return. His large salary over the next few years also plays a part in finding a trade partner. Crosby is set to earn $91.5 million in guaranteed money and carries a $35.5 million average annual value through the 2029 season.
So, who would be a good trade partner based on need (offensive line, wide receiver, defense) and salary? The Chicago Bears.
The Bears have a bit of a salary cap issue but could find a way to make it work to add one of the league’s top defensive ends. Barnwell proposed that the Bears send star WR DJ Moore and their 2026 first-round pick (No. 25) for Crosby and a 2027 fifth-round pick.
Moore would leave a crowded offense in Chicago to become Las Vegas’ WR1 and one of projected No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza’s top targets, while the Bears solve their pass-rush problem. Moore is coming off his worst statistical season, but it was the first year of Ben Johnson and there are tons of mouths to feed, creating a situation where he could be on his way out.
Moore has $82.6 million in guaranteed money and carries a $27.5 million AAV through 2029 as well, making the contracts match about as well as they can. Moore is entering his age-29 season with four 1,000-yard seasons under his belt and would be a great fit for the Raiders.
Whether the Raiders would accept that package for their best defensive player is a mystery, but the idea makes sense.