The Detroit Lions have remained on the sidelines, watching as several clubs have withdrawn from the Maxx Crosby trade sweepstakes or made actions indicating they are heading in different directions.
Most recently, the Dallas Cowboys seemed to pull out, claiming that the Las Vegas Raiders’ price of two first-round picks was simply too much to pay after acquiring two firsts in the deal that sent Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers last summer.
“On Maxx Crosby and the Cowboys being in play here…. ” Here is what a team source told me. “Raiders are speaking with a lot of people. But we would not give up two first-round picks,’ according to Jane Slater of NFL Network on X. “That’s the situation right now. Will it change? I don’t know, but I looked for those of you who are interested. “
Despite Terrion Arnold’s off-field difficulties, the Lions can still afford to trade two first-round selections for Maxx Crosby.
That is fantastic news for the Lions, since league sources connected the team to an aggressive pursuit of Crosby during last week’s NFL combine.
According to several league insiders, Detroit general manager Brad Holmes was more than ready to be aggressive in order to satisfy the trade demands of the Las Vegas Raiders, which included parting ways with two first-round draught choices, according to John Maakaron of SI. “Detroit’s whole coaching staff and front office agreed that adding Crosby would have catapulted the club into Super Bowl contention right away. “
Ma’Karon stated later in the report that the off-field legal issues jeopardizing cornerback Terrion Arnold’s position may cause the Lions to reconsider trading two first-round picks for Crosby, given the secondary’s potential need for a young, gifted player on an affordable rookie deal.
However, Arnold’s difficulties may take months, if not years, to resolve in court. Regardless of the outcome, a well-known answer to secondary weaknesses is to deploy a great pass-rush capable of getting home early and frequently while rushing only four. Pairing Crosby with Aidan Hutchinson would make the Lions’ defense one of the finest in the NFL at doing just that.
Bears seem to have shifted their attention away from Maxx Crosby and toward the offensive line and Tyler Linderbaum.
The Chicago Bears, Detroit’s NFC North rival that dethroned the Lions after consecutive division titles in 2023 and 2024, were widely regarded as the front-runners to sign Crosby for the majority of the previous week.
However, the majority of trade offers featured wide receiver DJ Moore as the primary personnel piece in exchange for numerous draft picks. Chicago ruled out that option on Thursday, exchanging Moore and a fifth-round selection to the Buffalo Bills for a second-round pick next month.
The Bears still have the draft power to seek Crosby, but following Drew Dalman’s unexpected announcement to retire earlier this week, the reigning divisional champions now have a critical vacancy in the middle of their offensive line.
ESPN reporter Courtney Cronin said on Thursday that Chicago is now well-positioned to pursue Tyler Linderbaum on an historic deal to fill that position, which would most likely mean taking a less expensive approach at edge-rusher than trading for Crosby — most likely through free agency, where adding a talented player would cost the Bears a contract rather than several draft assets.
