The New England Patriots will likely be in the market for a pass rusher this offseason, as the team posted the fewest sacks in the NFL in 2024 (28) and lacked consistent production from the edge rusher group.
New England must address this pressing need over the next few months, and For The Win’s Cory Woodroof predicts the Patriots will orchestrate a blockbuster trade for Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby.
Crosby has voiced his displeasure with the Raiders’ lack of winning and stability multiple times over the last few years, but the four-time Pro Bowler does seem to have a more optimistic approach due to Las Vegas recent hires of John Spytek as general manager and Pete Carroll as head coach.
“I’ve had doubts in the past,” Crosby said on PFT. “I feel like this past year was the hardest part of my career. Battling through injury the whole year, struggling, losing 10 games in a row. Up here, it makes you start questioning a lot of things.”
“It seems as if we’re going in the right direction,” Crosby added. “I can’t say that it is, but this probably the most optimistic I’ve been in recent years.”
If the Raiders are willing to trade Crosby this offseason, the Patriots should aggressively pursue the 2019 fourth-round pick. Crosby has totaled three double-digit sack seasons in his first six years and is one of the most relentless and dominant defensive players in football.
New England has plenty of cap space to endure Crosby’s four-year, $94 million contract extension he signed with the Raiders in 2022, and the franchise also has enough draft capital to facilitate a deal with Las Vegas.
For the Raiders, losing Crosby would be a massive blow, but the team would receive a bunch of future picks and assets if they dealt the superstar pass rusher.
Acquiring Maxx Crosby would be an excellent move by Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf. However, Las Vegas likely won’t deal their Pro Bowl edge rusher this offseason, so this trade has a low chance of happening anytime soon.