Christine Tannous/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

'He's one of the best in the league right now' - Colts head coach praised a star player that the team should now try to trade for

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Destin Adams | Last updated Oct 6, 2025 7:53 AM ET

The Indianapolis Colts improved to 4-1 on the year in Week 5 of the NFL season with a dominant performance against the Las Vegas Raiders. The team won convincingly, 40-6. Following the game, head coach Shane Steichen had quite the compliment to share about Raiders star edge rusher Maxx Crosby. "He's (Crosby) one of the best in the league right now," said Steichen.

Steichen shared that the Colts, like every team that plays the Raiders, made Crosby a key point of emphasis in their overall plan for the week. "Our thing going into this game, which I'm sure every opponent that plays the Raiders, is stop 98 (Crosby)," and the team did a solid job doing so. The Colts held Crosby to three total tackles on the day and, more importantly, zero sacks. Now that they accomplished their mission of limiting Crosby in this game, I think they should move on to a new mission: trading for the star pass rusher.

Hello, Maxx Crosby. Destroys Braden Smith for a tackle for loss.

Colts go 3-and-out to start.

Dulin still doing his kick return/gunner duties along with starting at WR.
— Kevin Bowen (@KBowen1070) October 5, 2025

Maxx Crosby's NFL career facts

7-year NFL career to date, all with the Raiders
61.5 career sacks
4X Pro Bowler

If Maxx Crosby becomes available, the Colts should consider trading for the Raiders' star pass rusher

Sep 28, 2025; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) looks on from the sideline during the first quarter against the Chicago Bears at Allegiant Stadium.Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

The Raiders are now 1-4 on the year and have lost four consecutive games. This loss especially feels like a rock-bottom moment, though, due to how outmatched they looked throughout the game. This type of loss can cause frustration to build in a locker room, and it can lead star players to potentially request a trade to a team where they would have a better chance of winning. If that becomes the reality for the Raiders and Crosby, I believe the Colts should pick up the phone and try to acquire the four-time Pro Bowler.

The Colts are not typically a team to make a massive swing like that, but I think there are a couple of reasons why this season feels different. This offseason, the Colts were linked to two big names on the trade market. The first being Cincinnati Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, who the Colts were reportedly one of the most aggressive teams pursuing a trade for the 2024 sack leader. I still believe if the Bengals had chosen to trade him ahead of the season, he would have been a Colt.

The second player is former Dallas Cowboys star pass rusher Micah Parsons, who was ultimately traded to the Green Bay Packers. The Colts were one of a handful of teams to make a call to the Cowboys expressing interest. That may not sound notable to some, but to me, that's two star edge rushers the Colts seriously considered trading for. So, if Crosby, whom Steichen himself called "one of the best in the league right now," I think there would be a better chance than some may realize that the Colts would be one of the most aggressive suitors to enter that race. With the team at 4-1 and having one of the top offenses in the NFL so far this year, making a win-now move to upgrade their defense makes sense.