In the NFL, teams fall into two categories when it comes to trades—those looking to add talent for a playoff push and those aiming to trade players to gain assets.
The Las Vegas Raiders have already been sellers this season, trading disgruntled All-Pro receiver Davante Adams after months of speculation about his potential move.
Adams was frequently mentioned in trade rumors before he was eventually dealt to the New York Jets. While the focus appeared to be on moving Adams, another Raider, two-time All-Pro pass rusher Maxx Crosby, has also been a frequent subject of trade discussions, particularly with the Detroit Lions.
Rumors about Crosby joining Detroit have become so rampant that the 27-year-old felt the need to address them publicly, which he did on his podcast, “The Rush.”
“Honestly, it’s crazy, bro,” Crosby said to his co-hosts about the trade talks. “Last year, there were some trade talks… that’s when the whole ‘send me to Detroit’ thing started. Their fan base was all over me… but it was at a lesser degree. It was talked about, but not like a wishlist thing.
“Now, it’s like they’ve started a whole pandemonium, a movement, like a revolution,” Crosby said about Detroit fans. “I’m just sitting here, doing my thing. … I had to address it with my teammates.”
While Crosby finds the interest flattering, he made it clear that he’s not looking to leave the Raiders.
“I’m not trying to leave,” Crosby stated. “I know it’s a business… I don’t have 100% control over it. But I want to be here (Las Vegas). I want to be Silver and Black. I’ll say it loud and clear—I want to be a Raider. I’ve said it over and over again. But yeah, it’s a business, and I don’t have full control, but seeing all the craziness has been insane.”
The Lions’ interest in Crosby is likely due to the loss of their star pass rusher, Aidan Hutchinson, who broke his leg in a recent game against the Dallas Cowboys. With the Lions tied for the best record in the NFC North and aiming for a Super Bowl run, fans want an elite pass rusher to replace Hutchinson, who may return by the Super Bowl.
Crosby also has Michigan connections, having been born there and attending Eastern Michigan University after growing up in Texas. Lions fans likely assume that with the Raiders focusing on the draft rather than the playoffs, they might be willing to trade Crosby.
