The rumors around Maxx Crosby aren’t just lingering — they’re evolving.
What once felt like idle speculation following a frustrating end to the 2025 season is now beginning to take shape, with specific teams, sources, and preferences quietly entering the conversation. And at the center of it all is a name that keeps resurfacing, even as the Raiders try to turn the page.
Crosby’s 2025 campaign ended not with a dramatic moment on the field, but with absence. Las Vegas shut him down for Weeks 17 and 18, a decision officially framed around health, but one that fueled whispers about tension behind the scenes. When a franchise cornerstone disappears at the end of a lost season, people notice.
The Raiders insist they’re moving forward. A new era is underway with Klint Kubiak stepping in as head coach and Fernando Mendoza expected to take over at quarterback. On paper, it’s an exciting reset — younger, faster, forward-looking.
But Crosby’s name never stopped circulating.
Earlier this week, NFL insider Dianna Russini added a new layer to the narrative, suggesting that Crosby’s frustration in Las Vegas has been real — and long-standing. Speaking on Boston sports radio, Russini noted that Crosby has openly expressed interest in playing for Mike Vrabel, now leading the New England Patriots.
That revelation alone would have been enough to stir debate.
Then the conversation widened.
Fox Sports insider Jay Glazer suggested Crosby may already be “done” with the Raiders, hinting that any potential trade would demand a return even greater than what the Cowboys received for Micah Parsons — a statement that signals just how highly league circles still value Crosby.
But perhaps the most striking development came from Sports Illustrated’s John Maakaron, who reported that if the Raiders do decide to move the 28-year-old pass rusher, the Detroit Lions stand out as Crosby’s clear first choice.
Not a fallback. Not a secondary option.
A first choice.
The fit isn’t hard to understand. Crosby has deep ties to Eastern Michigan, and Detroit represents both familiarity and unfinished business. Pairing him with Aidan Hutchinson would instantly give the Lions one of the most feared edge-rushing duos in football — the kind that can tilt playoff games without blitzing.
From Detroit’s perspective, it’s tempting. From Las Vegas’ side, it’s complicated.
Crosby isn’t just a productive defender. He’s a tone-setter, a culture driver, and one of the few remaining links to the Raiders’ previous identity. Trading him wouldn’t just be a roster move — it would be a philosophical one.
And yet, the silence is telling.
The Raiders haven’t publicly shut down the rumors. Crosby hasn’t issued a denial. Instead, the story keeps advancing through indirect confirmations and carefully worded reports. Each new detail doesn’t explode the situation — it sharpens it.
This no longer feels like media noise. It feels like positioning.
Whether the Raiders ultimately choose to keep Crosby as the anchor of their rebuild or cash in on his peak value remains unclear. What is clear is that Crosby’s future may not be dictated solely by contracts or draft capital.
Preference matters now.
And when a player of his caliber has a destination in mind — one tied to geography, legacy, and Super Bowl potential — it changes how every rumor is heard.
Nothing has happened yet.
But the conversation has shifted from if to where.
And once that happens, the clock usually isn’t far behind.
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