The silver lining for Raiders fans is that Super Bowl week has finally wrapped up. Despite the Chiefs’ humiliating loss in front of the largest live TV audience of the year, it was still a tough week for fans in Las Vegas. However, if there’s one thing that might make enduring a week of Maxx Crosby trade rumors a bit more bearable, it’s the Chiefs getting thoroughly dominated.
As the week of interviews came to a close, there was a glimmer of cautious optimism about Crosby’s future in Las Vegas under Pete Carroll’s leadership. Carroll even made a direct appeal to Crosby at his introductory press conference, and it seemed like things were looking up.
But, as is often the case with the Raiders, bad news followed quickly. On Super Bowl Sunday, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport dropped a bombshell, outlining the status of NFL’s top pass rushers in terms of contracts and trade discussions—and Crosby’s situation didn’t sound promising.
Crosby’s future in Las Vegas under Pete Carroll now seems uncertain. While the hiring of the Super Bowl-winning coach was seen as a step toward stability, the Raiders still lack a franchise quarterback and have a long way to go to build a competitive team. Trading Crosby for a large haul of draft picks could speed up that rebuilding process, and Crosby might even welcome the change—especially if it means joining a playoff contender like Green Bay, where he has ties. Crosby still has two years and $44 million left on the contract extension he signed in 2022.
On the bright side, at least he’s not headed to the Lions. While the idea of Crosby “welcoming the change” doesn’t exactly inspire confidence, it’s a glimmer of hope for fans. If his situation echoes the Davante Adams saga, it’s fair to wonder how this will play out. But hey, Raiders fans have had their share of surprises, so they might have plenty to worry about after all.
