The Las Vegas Raiders are one of the NFL’s most interesting teams with less than two weeks remaining until the trade deadline.
They had already agreed to deal their best player—edge defender Maxx Crosby, one of the all-time greats for this iconic franchise—back in March. But then the Ravens reneged on their word, hiding behind a medical determination that general managers around the league knew was laughable. Crosby is playing nearly every snap for the Raiders and wants to stay on the field.
The Raiders drafted quarterback Fernando Mendoza first overall to anchor their rebuilding effort, but they are also trying to instill a winning culture under rookie head coach Klint Kubiak. With veteran Kirk Cousins near the top of the league in touchdown passes, sticking with Cousins for now makes logical sense.
Las Vegas emerged as an early surprise team in the NFL, winning its first three games and nearly knocking off the mighty Chiefs. However, after a brutal stretch of games, the Raiders now sit at 3-4.
Yet the schedule is lightening up, with the lowly Jets up next. For a franchise struggling to establish a true home-field advantage—with Vegas often serving as a destination for visiting fans—winning matters. Getting players to believe the city is behind them matters, too.
So, what should the Raiders do?
How do they navigate the next few weeks knowing they are not yet realistic playoff contenders, especially when draft capital is gold and Crosby is highly attractive to contending teams? How much does maintaining a competitive product matter if several of those players will likely be gone by the time the Raiders can make noise in January?
It’s a lot to sort through.
Minority owner Tom Brady is heavily involved in these macro-level, philosophical conversations, according to league sources.
We reached out to several longtime NFL personnel executives, former general managers, and individuals who have faced these exact decisions—both as buyers and sellers at the deadline—to weigh in on what the Raiders will do, and what they should do.
Raiders Unlikely to Accept Less Than Two First-Round Picks for Maxx Crosby
The Raiders have already established Crosby’s market value, having agreed to send him to Baltimore for two first-round picks before the Ravens backed out of the deal in March.
According to one active NFL general manager, Las Vegas is unlikely to accept anything less now.
“They set the price already, really, didn’t they? They had two ones [two first-round picks] from [Ravens GM Eric] DeCosta. So you can’t really act like he’s not available now,” the GM said. “I don’t think they take less than that. I’m not sure someone offers that; that was a reach by Baltimore… But he’s still a dominant player. The knee isn’t holding him back.”
The GM also noted that the destination team could be a decisive factor.
For instance, trading Crosby to a hated rival like the Chiefs is likely too bitter a pill to swallow. Conversely, securing two first-round picks from a team like the Cowboys—who could miss the postseason in both years, thereby increasing the value of those selections—would likely pique the Raiders’ interest.
A longtime NFL personnel executive who evaluated Crosby’s 2026 tape and knows several teams weighing a bid believes it would be foolish for the Raiders not to consider a similar offer now.
“He’s the same guy he’s always been on film. No issues with the medicals,” the executive said. “If they can get two ones for him, they have to take it. I would… But I kind of doubt they get that.”
Could the Cowboys Tempt the Raiders Into a Crosby Trade?
A former general manager who remains well-connected around the league evaluating talent for team executives offered a contrasting perspective. Based on Crosby’s play and the franchise’s prolonged struggles, he prefers building a winner around the star pass rusher.
Given Crosby’s elite output and the team’s history, the former GM would prefer to see the Raiders trade other assets while convincing ownership to make another significant splash in free agency. The organization already demonstrated a willingness to spend last year, securing center Tyler Linderbaum on a fully guaranteed three-year deal.
“You know me—I’m against getting rid of difference-makers,” the former GM said. “After all that bullshit this offseason, I would keep him.”
There is also the matter of what Crosby brings to the locker room: the standard he sets through effort, performance, and leadership. It’s difficult to win in the NFL without your highest-paid players being your most diligent workers.
What Crosby does in the facility at 6:00 a.m., in the weight room at 6:30 a.m., and in meeting rooms after sundown is far from the norm. This is a franchise with just one winning season since 2016 and two since 2003. Keeping Crosby around to model the standard for a young roster carries tangible value.
Marvin Lewis Highlights Crosby’s Relentless Work Ethic
Longtime former NFL head coach Marvin Lewis, who served as an assistant head coach in Las Vegas in 2024, witnessed Crosby’s commitment firsthand.
Lewis, who spent decades running NFL defenses and continues to prepare for syndicated national radio broadcasts by evaluating tape daily, described Crosby as a rare talent whose practice intensity matches his gameday motor.
“He’s special because he impacts practice the same way [he impacts a game],” Lewis explained. “He’s never been housebroken. I was like, ‘Bro, you can’t touch the quarterback. You can’t touch the quarterback!’ He just has to touch the quarterback. He is special.”
Lewis recalled that even before joining the Raiders’ coaching staff, Crosby’s leadership was evident on practice tape. After gaining remote film access, Lewis contacted then-head coach Antonio Pierce with an observation.
“I called him that evening and said, ‘Your three best players—you’re in a good situation. Your three best players practice the hardest.’ That was Maxx Crosby, [running back] Josh Jacobs, and [receiver] Davante Adams. You had three great pros showing everybody else how to do it.”
But it was Crosby’s unwavering daily routine that stood out most.
“With Maxx, you can set your watch by it… I would come in from my walk at 6:00 a.m. and walk into the dining room for a smoothie. [Tight end] Brock [Bowers] is sitting there having breakfast. I look across the room, and in comes No. 98 [Crosby] at 6:05 a.m. You could look out the window at 6:00 p.m. and his truck is still there. A full day, every day. You could set your watch to it.”
Lewis even joked with Crosby about his predictability.
“I told Max once, ‘You know, you’d be easy to assassinate because everybody knows where you are.’ Every day is the same.”
Should the Raiders Trade Maxx Crosby Before the Deadline?
Given everything Crosby brings, accepting anything less than the Ravens’ original offer of two first-round picks would seem ill-advised. Yet, as trade deadline calls intensify, the argument for keeping the face of the franchise intact clearly resonates just as strongly.