Raiders' approach with Maxx Crosby raises questions about his long-term outlook

Maxx Crosby's relationship with the Las Vegas Raiders took a big hit last season when they asked him to sit out for the final games, even though he was healthy enough to play.

The whole situation ultimately led to a failed trade fiasco. While Crosby is back in Sin City and seems happy to stay home, he's the type of competitive freak who doesn't want to miss a single snap.

That's why, even though he was coming off offseason knee surgery, it was somewhat surprising to see him play just 45 snaps in Week 1, given how he usually handles being on the bench.

Notably, ESPN writer Ryan McFadden wasn't surprised in the slightest. Speaking on the latest edition of "Raiders Collective," McFadden claimed this approach was far from surprising. In fact, it might become the norm.

The Raiders might load-manage Maxx Crosby all year

“It looks like a sign of load management, and this is something that’s not surprising,” McFadden said. “You’re talking about your top defensive player. He’s 29 years old, coming off an offseason knee procedure. He’s had multiple surgeries in the past, and to me, this is about preserving his career and making sure you’re able to get him playing at a high level for the duration of his contract.”

That makes perfect sense, and with the Raiders dominating the Miami Dolphins for most of the game, there was no need to put too much on their star's plate. This might've been the plan with him all along, and judging by the look on his face, he might've changed his mindset and been on board with it.

“When you go back to the league meetings, general manager John Spytek said they were going to have conversations with Crosby about potentially managing his snap count because of that. Because you kind of want to let him have longevity,” McFadden added.

Crosby looked as sharp as ever, but this only raises questions about whether he'll have to be load-managed for the remainder of his career. The Baltimore Ravens backed out of the trade due to concerns about his surgically repaired knee. And as great a player as he clearly is, this might take a huge toll on his projected trade value of at least two first-round picks, in case the Raiders ever reconsider trading him.