The Tampa Bay Buccaneers collapsed in the second half of the 2025 NFL season because they had one of the worst front sevens in the league, and the offense was unable to measure up to a dreadful defense, especially once they faced a rash of injuries. Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby could transform the Bucs pass rush, but it doesn't look like the Bucs are going particularly hard after the elite edge defender.
In fact, according to Sports Illustrated NFL insider Albert Breer, the Buccaneers are not even one of the teams keeping tabs on Crosby's availability. He mentioned the Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears, Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams, and New England Patriots as suitors but left out the Bucs. Additionally, he stated that he is leaning towards a Crosby trade happening and corrobarated other predictions that Crosby could be traded as early as within the week.
Now, Breer could have simply failed to mention the Buccaneers since he was not listing every team intersted in Crosby and potentially left them off due to a redundancy. But it is possible to read between the lines and say that they may not be as interested as the others and therefore did not fly off the top of his head - or they are not interested at all.
The Buccaneers may not be top Maxx Crosby suitors
And to be honest, we have not heard anything from plugged in beat reporters on the ground in Tampa Bay stating that the Buccaneers are actively sending offers to the Raiders for Crosby. It's mostly been fans speculating and wishing for the Bucs to go afte the perennial double digit sack defensive end.
Crosby would cost a king's ransom on the trade block, as the Raiders want a package similar to what the Cowboys got for Micah Parsons from the Green Bay Packers last year. That makes sense for teams already close to winning the Super Bowl like the Rams and Patriots, but the Buccaneers need that draft capital with so many other defensive needs at defensive end, outside linebacker, inside linebacker, and even defensive tackle help for Vita Vea.
The Buccaneers could instead go after Trey Hendrickson or Odafe Oweh in free agency, and the secondary edge rushing market also has other options. Tampa Bay's actual draft picks will be sacred to Jason Licht, especially first-round choices that are going to go for linebackers who can take the mantle from Lavonte David.