It’s back to square one for Maxx Crosby and the Las Vegas Raiders.
As NFL free agency seemed to take on a quieter tone early Tuesday, the late-night dissolution of the trade between the Raiders and the Baltimore Ravens sent massive reverberations throughout the league. And while the disgruntled five-time Pro Bowler now returns to his former team, it’s difficult to shake the question of where he might land next.
Trying to unring this bell will prove extremely complicated for all parties involved. Having revealed their hand, the Raiders must now navigate potentially deflated offers from any remaining suitors. And the X-factor of potential medical concerns only complicates the matter further.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter, however, reported late Tuesday night that the Raiders had received calls from “several” teams inquiring about Crosby’s availability in a trade. Yet it’s unclear whether any deal can actually be pieced together in the foreseeable future.
As things currently stand, it’s difficult to tell which teams might truly be contenders for Crosby’s services. But these eight organizations have both the resources and potentially the motivation to make something happen eventually – under the right terms:
Dallas Cowboys
They’re the team that’s going to loom over this until there’s a resolution for both Crosby and the Raiders. But Dallas’ place in the discourse might not be an accurate reflection of the team’s new dynamic.
Jerry Jones mused that the Cowboys could be aggressive in free agency, but that so far has mostly proved to be a dud, with the team adding edge rusher Rashan Gary and safety Jalen Thompson. Dallas has a shot at a real difference-maker to help truly launch the post-Micah Parsons era – and potentially at a depleted price point. NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero reported on Tuesday that the Cowboys would still be interested in Crosby even with his medical outlook prompting a retreat by the Ravens, per reports. But ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and NFL Network’s Jane Slater, among others, cast doubt on Dallas as a destination after the team moved forward with its two notable acquisitions.
With two first-round selections in each of the next two years, the Cowboys have more flexibility than other outfits. Would Dallas, however, need to back out of the Gary trade to rebalance things? It could be too difficult for the team to land this plane at this point in free agency.
New England Patriots
The reigning AFC champs didn’t appear to be in the initial mix for Crosby, and they found a lower-cost solution on the edge in Dre’Mont Jones on Monday. Still, it could be worth circling back if Mike Vrabel and Eliot Wolf can change the complexion of their defense without going full tilt.
With insufficient pressure off the edge, New England was essentially boxed into frequent all-out blitzes down the stretch of the postseason. Crosby no doubt would change all that. He also could help Vrabel’s crew establish itself as the clear class of the conference in a landscape that now seems fairly wide open. Jones is a fine addition, but bringing him on while saying farewell to K’Lavon Chaisson likely won’t radically change the outlook of the defense. Adding Crosby obviously would. And for New England, parting with picks in the back end of the order would probably be a bit less painful than the cost that other teams would face.
Seattle Seahawks
The thought of adding Crosby to the Seahawks’ already deep and formidable pass rush feels like ‘Madden’ territory. And in the end, this probably still only amounts to a fun thought exercise.
Still, what a fun marriage this would be between Mike Macdonald and one of the league’s few dominant defensive forces. Crosby surely would relish the opportunity to join a leading force in the league that sets a high standard for professionalism. And a well-stocked roster probably has a bit more room to play around than many of its counterparts throughout the league.
Philadelphia Eagles
Forking over prized picks might be extremely difficult for Roseman to stomach, and the defense could be due for a rebalancing of its books with several other young standouts in line for extensions after Jordan Davis received his massive payday. But Philadelphia is at a potential crisis point, and getting a cornerstone player on defense could provide a much higher margin of error for an offense bound to undergo some more turbulence in Sean Mannion’s first season as play-caller.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Some reports indicated that the AFC South champions were in the hunt for Crosby, though the lack of a first-round pick this year likely was – and could be – a significant stumbling block. But few general managers are as fearless as James Gladstone when it comes to pursuing players who are viewed as true outliers at their position.
Crosby could make hay in defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile’s scheme, which plays a premium on creating splash plays. Jacksonville might even be able to offset any draft asset concerns by potentially dangling a talented young player, including potentially Travon Walker, the former No. 1 overall pick who is set to play on his fifth-year option and might become superfluous if a deal materializes.
Chicago Bears
They once were widely viewed as front-runners for Crosby, but the Bears’ offseason calculus seems to indicate that Ben Johnson and Ryan Poles are taking a more patient approach to team-building. Maybe the math changes, however, if the ask is reduced. Staying out in front in the NFC North is no easy feat, and adding Crosby would allow Chicago’s defense to become less reliant on generating turnovers.
Washington Commanders
We already know they’re willing to pay a heavy price to reconfigure their pass rush after forking over $68 million guaranteed to Odafe Oweh. Given his background, he might be more effective as a complementary threat. The thought of the havoc that Crosby and Oweh could create is probably enough to make Dan Quinn at least give Adam Peters a ring. With Washington up so early in the order, however, any draft compensation would come with a high toll for the Commanders.
Tennessee Titans
Robert Saleh and general manager Mike Borgonzi have stated their affinity for rangy disruptors throughout their defense. Why not go for the prototype then? Crosby might not love going from one rebuilding team to another, but Tennessee is taking a hyperaggressive approach to boost its talent level across the board. Parting with top draft picks to acquire a veteran might be a non-starter, but there’s probably at least a conversation to be had.