Through five weeks, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are tied atop the NFC standings at an impressive 4-1. There is a lot to like about the Bucs this season, such as Baker Mayfield taking his game to a new level, rookie Emeka Egbuka bursting onto the scene as one the league's most productive wide receivers, and solid play from the team's revamped cornerback room.
But for all the strengths that Tampa Bay has showcased, they still lack one key piece – a dominant pass rusher. The front office made a splash in the offseason, signing Haason Reddick in free agency, but he has yet to live up to the team's lofty expectations. Through five games, Reddick has notched just one sack.
The team is also hoping for YaYa Diaby to take the next step in his development. He had an impressive rookie season where he notched 7.5 sacks, but he took a step back last season with 4.5 sacks and far this season, he has recorded just one sack.
An elite presence off the edge could be the missing ingredient to take Todd Bowles' defensive unit to another level, and Jason Licht and his staff would be wise to explore the trade market.
Could the Buccaneers pull off a blockbuster trade with the Raiders for Maxx Crosby?
ESPN’s Mike Tannenbaum, former general manager of the New York Jets, proposed a bold trade idea on ESPN's Get Up program that would send star pass rusher Maxx Crosby from the Las Vegas Raiders to the Buccaneers.
Bucs fans, yes or no? pic.twitter.com/7kA9shhiQ1
— Bucs Juice (@BucsJuice) October 10, 2025
In Tannenbaum’s proposal, Tampa Bay gives up a second-round pick and a fourth-round pick in exchange for Crosby, who recorded 7.5 sacks in just 12 games last season — a total that would’ve tied for the team lead in Tampa Bay. In the two seasons prior, he posted 14.5 and 12.5 sacks, respectively.
The trade package consisting of just second and fourth-round selections is a small price to pay for a player like Crosby, who would fit in perfectly in Tampa Bay and would cherish the opportunity to contribute to a winning culture. So far in 2025, Crosby has recorded two sacks, along with a forced fumble and an interception.
Crosby has been named an AP All-Pro twice in his career and reached four Pro Bowls, but has only reached the playoffs once in his career and has never won a playoff game. With the Raiders sitting at 1-4 in 2025, it's hard to ignore the feeling that Crosby's prime is being wasted on a non-competitive team.
At 28 years old and under contract through 2029 after signing a three-year extension last offseason, trading for Crosby would give the Buccaneers one of the league’s premier pass rushers with five seasons of team control. The last time Tampa Bay boasted a truly elite pass rush was in 2019, when Shaquil Barrett set a franchise record with 19.5 sacks and Jason Pierre-Paul added 8.5 of his own. The duo followed that up in 2020 with another strong showing, combining for 17.5 sacks.
Tampa Bay landed Pierre-Paul via a trade with the New York Giants, and following a similar blueprint to acquire Crosby could be a franchise-altering move in 2025. While general manager Jason Licht values his draft picks and rarely makes in-season trades, his track record drafting pass rushers suggests it might be time to break from his status quo
His recent premium investments, including former first-rounder Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, who departed in free agency last offseason after never reaching higher than five sacks in Tampa Bay, and 2024 second-round pick Chris Braswell, who has just 1.5 career sacks, haven’t paid off.
The Buccaneers would be better served gambling on an established star like Crosby rather than continuing to rely on unproven EDGE prospects who have historically failed to develop in Tampa Bay.
Landing a player like Crosby wouldn’t come cheap, but if Tampa Bay is serious about chasing another Lombardi Trophy, taking a big swing for a proven game-wrecker like Crosby might be exactly what it takes to put them over the top.