Raiders assistant has high praise for Pro Bowl DE

"When you talk about Maxx Crosby, you’re talking about the best defensive player in the league. Probably in the history that I’ve ever seen. Now, I’ve only been around it 30 years, but I mean he’s that good,” Ryan said. "Then you add Christian Wilkins, who arguably is the best tackle in football. They're going to impact you."

Ryan added that Crosby "makes everybody tougher," and "makes everybody better." The 61-year-old joked that Crosby even made "everybody get tattoos" and is "just a bada-s."

While Mad Maxx has a long way to joining the all-time greats, he's far exceeded fans' expectations since he was selected by the Raiders in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft.

Crosby had 10 sacks and a career-high four forced fumbles during his first season to finish second in the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year voting to San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa. Crosby had his weakest year in 2020, but still tallied 14 tackles for loss, 13 quarterback hits and seven sacks.

He was named second-team All-Pro in 2021 and earned his first Pro Bowl honor, registering 30 quarterback hits, eight sacks and a career-best seven passes defended, before posting a career-high 36 quarterback hits to go with a league-high 22 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks in 2022.

Last year may have been Crosby's best season, as he ended the campaign with career highs in tackles for loss (league-high 23) and sacks (14.5). He was named second-team All-Pro for the second time, made his third straight Pro Bowl and was fourth in the AP Defensive Player of the Year voting.

Ryan's praise wasn't limited to the players.

 "He's real ... he is a total bad a-s ... he is going to make us winners," Ryan said of head coach Antonio Pierce, per The Athletic's Vic Tafur. "We've got the best coach. And Patrick Graham is No. 2."