How Tom Brady handled a question about failed Raiders-Ravens Maxx Crosby trade

At least one report from earlier this winter suggested that Tom Brady is serving as "the de facto boss when it comes to football matters" for the Las Vegas Raiders as a minority owner of the franchise. 

Thus, one would assume Brady was involved in the Raiders' decision to trade star pass-rusher Maxx Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens for a pair of first-round draft picks. Of course, Baltimore eventually backed out of the deal after Crosby failed a physical for reasons related to a meniscus repair he needed earlier this offseason. 

While speaking with reporters after the Fanatics Flag Football Classic this past weekend, Brady was asked about his role with the Raiders and also about his "reaction to the Maxx Crosby trade that didn’t happen." 

Brady brilliantly danced around the juiciest part of the question. 

Tom Brady is leaning on previous experiences to help the Raiders

"I love being involved in the NFL," Brady explained, per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. "Like I said, I love football. I love sports. You know, I was very fortunate in my career to be around amazing people and mentors like (New England Patriots owner) Robert Kraft, as an owner of a team, and now getting to work with (Raiders principal owner) Mark Davis in the role that I’m at, and to see kind of a different team shape, the way that things are done and how we’re evolving and growing, and, you know, we certainly have a long ways to go. And, you know, it’s — what I learned about football in 23 seasons is, it’s a tremendous amount of resilience, adversity, discipline, determination, communication, of an entire organization to see, really the value in committing to one another." 

Brady, Kraft and legendary head coach Bill Belichick guided the Patriots to six Super Bowl championships from 2000 through the 2019 season. Meanwhile, the Raiders haven't won a playoff game since January 2003. 

As it pertains to the Crosby situation, some think the Raiders could and should have done more to ensure the Ravens wouldn't have been able to back out of the trade before the new league year opened on March 11. It now seems that Crosby will play for first-year Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak through at least the start of the 2026 season, but it's possible that general manager John Spytek could take calls about Crosby's availability later this year. 

Tom Brady focusing on "process over outcomes" with the Raiders?

"You know, it’s always, I think, process over outcomes, and I think we’re all trying — and all of us in our own role that we have, and the role that we have, and whether it’s an ownership role or a personnel department or strength and conditioning and athletic training and obviously players and positions and offense, defense — everyone’s got to come together. Everyone has to work incredibly hard for the people next to them," Brady added during his comments.

Part of Brady's process should involve Las Vegas making Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza the first overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft in April. How the Raiders ultimately develop Mendoza could determine whether or not Brady finds himself searching for a next advertised franchise savior a few years down the road.