The Raiders don’t get better by trading Maxx Crosby

Despite a recent viral trade proposal, trading Maxx Crosby would be a disastrous decision for the Las Vegas Raiders.

The scenario that has been shared by SideLion Report that we’re referring to involves the Detroit Lions and it is as follows:

• Lions receive: Maxx Crosby
• Raiders receive: ’26 1st and 5th round pick, ’27 1st and 4th round picks

So, now that you know the trade, it’s fair to say that this wouldn’t be a smart move for Raiders general manager John Spytek.

Why would the Raiders trade their best player?

Close your eyes for just a moment.

Now open them, because this is the part of the Crosby trade conversation that keeps getting skipped: the Raiders are not in the business of solving Detroit’s problems.

Yes, Crosby would change the Lions. That is precisely why the offer on the table is not close.

Two future first-round picks and a couple of Day 3 picks are not a “boatload” for Maxx Crosby. He plays every snap at full speed and sets the tone in the building. In a division built around quarterbacks, he is one of the few defenders who can derail an opponent’s plan by himself. For a player that important, the price cannot start at two first-rounders and late picks.

The argument is always the same: trade the star, collect picks and reset the roster. It sounds simple, but it’s not. The Raiders would not be trading an average pass rusher. They would be trading the defender offenses plan for all week. They would be trading a leader and the player who keeps the defense competitive in close games. If he is gone, the Raiders do not gain flexibility. Opponents get easier third downs.

Maxx Crosby benefits a rookie QB…

If the goal is to help a rookie quarterback and reset the timeline, trading Crosby works against that goal. Young quarterbacks need defensive stops and short fields. They need games that stay close in the fourth quarter. They need a team that can win even when the offense is still developing. Crosby helps create that kind of environment. Draft picks do not.

This proposal also ignores timing. Two future first-round picks mean the Raiders wait for help while the roster, the coaching staff and the quarterback plan get judged right away. If Detroit stays good, those picks land late in the first round. Late first-round picks are not the same as elite talent. That is a long way from replacing a premier player.

Detroit’s interest makes sense. The Lions want a pass rusher opposite Aidan Hutchinson. They are in a win-now window. They want certainty on defense. But certainty costs more than two future firsts and late-round picks. If Detroit believes Crosby is the missing piece, the offer should include at least three premium assets. It should include a high Day 2 pick and a young player who can contribute immediately.

Until that happens, this is not an offer the Raiders should treat as serious. It is the kind of proposal teams float because it costs nothing to ask. Trading Crosby should cost plenty.