Las Vegas Raiders’ GM Said He Expects Maxx Crosby To Stay Put

Posted on: February 25, 2026, 10:41h. 

Last updated on: February 25, 2026, 10:41h.

Mark Keast Read More
Expertise: Canadian Gaming, iGaming, Las Vegas, Sports Betting, NFL, Boxing, UFC.
  • Raiders’ GM John Spytek speaks to reporters at NFL Combine
  • Big NFL storyline revolves around Crosby trade rumours
  • DraftKings sets Raiders’ regular season Over/Under win total at 5.5

The Las Vegas Raiders, despite finishing this past NFL season at 3-14, with sportsbooks pegging the over/under for their regular season win totals for the 2026-27 campaign at 5.5, still represent one of the more interesting NFL off-season storylines that people are following closely.

Maxx Crosby of the Las Vegas Raiders sacks Justin Herbert #10 of the Los Angeles Chargers during the third quarter of an NFL football game at SoFi Stadium last November in Inglewood, California. (Image: Brooke Sutton/Getty Images)

Raiders Rebuild

A big part of that surrounds star defensive end Maxx Crosby, with digital media rumours suggesting Crosby wants to be traded out of Las Vegas because he doesn’t want to be part of any rebuild. Fox Sports reported that, as did ESPN. The Athletic reported that Crosby has a hankering to go play for the New England Patriots under coach Mike Vrabel.

A rebuild seems to be where the Raiders are going, with a new young coach in Klint Kubiak, owning the No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft, and close to $90 million in salary cap space, according to Spotrac. Trading Crosby for a Micah Parson-like return would jump start the rebuild. In August the Dallas Cowboys traded the two time All Pro edge rusher to the Green Bay Packers for three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark and two first-round draft picks.

Raiders general manager John Spytek, though, said this at an NFL Combine presser this week (from Raiders Report), saying that he expects Crosby to be in a Raiders’ uniform when the season starts:

Maxx is an elite player, and I’ve been very up front from the start when I got here, that we’re in the business of having really good players on the team. We need a lot more of them. And it’s hard to build a great team without elite players. Maxx and I have a great relationship. He’s in the building every day, getting healthy right now. We talk on the phone, we text. So I have a great relationship with Maxx.”

First Overall Draft Pick

Crosby, 28, 6-foot-5, 255 pounds, has 69.5 career sacks, led the NFL in tackles for loss multiple times, has five Pro Bowl and two All-Pro nods, even had an interception last season. He is nicknamed “Condor” for relentlessly hunting down quarterbacks. 

Crosby signed a three-year contract, $106.5 million extension with the Raiders in 2025, averaging $35.5 million a year through 2029. If he was going to ask for a trade, besides the Patriots, the Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, and Chicago Bears are other teams that would have interest.

Kubiak also indicated during his introductory news conference Feb. 11 that he expected Crosby to be back with the team next season.

“I love talking ball with (Maxx),” he told reporters. “I look forward to continuing those conversations. He was the first one in here this morning, working out. We want him to be part of our success going forward. He’s one of the best players in the NFL, so it’s a no-brainer to get to work with Maxx and see him continue to have success with this organization.”

Salary Cap Space

Owning the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft, set for April 23, the Raiders are expected to choose Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza. DraftKings has the odds Mendoza goes No. 1 at -20000, FanDuel at -20000, BetMGM at -10000.

DraftKings the other day released regular season win totals for 2026-27, with the Las Vegas Raiders at 5.5 (+120 on the Over, -145 on the Under).

Spytek also said he would take calls from other teams about Crosby, that “we’re always listening”. Still, Spytek’s comments, as well as Kubiak’s, are a clear indication of what they hope happens. They want Crosby back. He’s heart and soul. So Spytek is going to tell fans want they want to hear, if it’s a messaging campaign. After all, the Raiders have tickets to sell. Crosby, at 28, which is older in terms of wear on the body, clearly wants a shot at winning.

If another team comes to the table with an offer Spytek simply can’t refuse, that will put an end to this fast. Or, the Raiders under Kubiak start making some moves that send the message they intend to compete this upcoming season, that Mendoza will be an understudy.