Make no mistake, Las Vegas Raiders star defensive end Maxx Crosby is available on the trade market for the right price.
Perhaps even simply the highest bidder at this point.
Rumors and speculation were already running rampant before the Super Bowl-week revelation from Crosby’s friend and NFL analyst Jay Glazer that set the situation ablaze with his strong claims about Crosby’s strong desire for a divorce from the only NFL team for which he has ever suited up.
While many Raiders fans have tried to bury their heads in the sand and wish away the story as nothing more than wild, unsubstantiated claims, it’s time to accept reality.
A breakup is the most likely outcome at this point.
Crosby has had every opportunity to deny there is friction with the team. Several chances on both television and podcasts to simply say he is happy with the Raiders and doesn’t want to go anywhere.
He has declined to do so, instead offering up platitudes such as he has talked enough about the subject or pre-emptively complaining his words will be taken out of context.
It would be hard to twist, “I don’t want to be traded.”
Instead, he has almost aggressively avoided addressing questions about whether or not he is either seeking — or would be fine with — a trade.
The Raiders, for their part, are saying the right things.
New coach Klint Kubiak has said he looks forward to working with Crosby.
General manager John Spytek insisted during the combine he has a good relationship with one of the league’s top defensive players and can see him being a part of the team moving forward.
But the reality is the relationship is strained.
While the team’s decision to shut Crosby down the final two weeks of the season is often cited as the source of the discord, it was more of a last straw.
A tipping point in a relationship already showing signs of wear after years of losing and abandoned rebuilds that failed to produce a solid foundation moving forward.
Crosby remains a role model in the community and a leader in the locker room, but he has shown more and more signs of frustration as the losses have mounted over the years and optimism became harder to find.
Constant turnover in the power structure have also made it more difficult for relationships to form and grow, particularly when there is confusion about the roles of various team personnel.
He has also long fought off suggestions he try to manage his reps in order to save wear and tear on his body.
So the Raiders are now left with a discontented defensive star who will be 29 by the time the season starts and is nearly eligible for the bulk discount on offseason surgeries at this point.
His value will never be higher and frankly, there is a question as to what level of play he can sustain by the time the Raiders are ready to compete with what is expected to be a rookie quarterback.
Spytek and the Raiders would be foolish to not listen to offers, something he publicly admitted they are doing at this point.
Deadlines tend to speed up discussions and the start of free agency early next week is just the first of several soft deadlines. The market will undoubtedly change as teams sign players and have a better sense of what they need and what they can acquire without giving up assets.
The draft would be another one. The Raiders would obviously need to move Crosby before then in order to get picks this year.
Several teams appear to have strong interest. The Bears are favored in the market and have been actively clearing cap space this week. The Cowboys love to make a splash, but may not love the asking price with several roster holes to fill. Every contender is likely to at least kick the tires.
But offers are being made and the Raiders are listening.
None of this is to say the relationship is irreparable or make any guarantees about his impending departure.
The Raiders have no reason to force a move if they don’t get the return they are seeking. They could easily keep Crosby around until the deadline or even work to build a bridge toward a long-term peace treaty.
Crosby is on the market, though. That is clear. It would be a mistake to not be prepared for No. 98 to no longer be with the organization when the 2026 season kicks off.
Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on X.
