If there is one need on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that supercedes all others, then it is the need for an elite pass rusher. Las Vegas Raiders superstar Maxx Crosby is THE dream target for Tampa Bay this offseason, but the AFC West club's General Manager doesn't sound ready to give up on keeping the Minnesota Golden Gopher out west.
With the NFL Scouting Combine festivities underway in Indianapolis, there's a lot more on the agenda than just the league's top draft prospects showing off their athleticism. All the executives are gathered to discuss possible free agent moving abouts and, especially, trades, and there is no bigger trade chip - not even the quarterbacks - than Crosby.
Though injuries and age are quietly becoming concerns, Crosby is one of the marquee pass rushers in the NFL. He has already made it clear that he is done with the Raiders, while the Raiders continue to hold out hope that he will stay - and it's starting to go beyond a mere leverage play.
The Raiders still think Maxx Crosby is staying
Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, Las Vegas Raiders GM John Spytek told reporters present at the Combine that he expects Maxx Crosby to be a Raider when the 2026 NFL season kicks off, going against what appears to be the prevailing belief from most around the league.
Now, Spytek spitting his take on Crosby does not necessarily mean that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and all the myriad of contending teams in need of a top pass rusher to push them over the edge - a list which includes the Bucs main rivals, the Carolina Panthers - are doomed to miss out. But it does further the perception that the Raiders are 1) not ready to give up on keeping Crosby with former Buccaneer Tom Brady as their illustrious and ambitious owner and 2) would need a king's ransom in order to part ways with him.
Now 28 years old, Crosby has been to five straight Pro Bowls and is already one of the best pass rushers in Raiders history. He is still in his prime, having just sacked the quarterback 10 times for the fourth time in his NFL career, and, if anything, his run defense is only getting better with an insane 28 tackles for loss last season.
Crosby is the best option for the Buccaneers, but the Raiders expecting him to play if, even if only a smokescreen, a clear indication that he may be priced out of the range that Bucs GM Jason Licht wants to pay in trade capital.