The Detroit Lions’ search for an elite pass rusher may once again lead them to a familiar name. As the team looks to pair Aidan Hutchinson with another dominant edge defender, Las Vegas Raiders star Maxx Crosby has reportedly made it clear he wants out — and may have taken his message directly to Tom Brady.
According to NFL insider Jason La Canfora of SportsBoom, Crosby has gone so far as to inform Raiders minority owner Tom Brady that he will not play for Las Vegas again. An unnamed NFL general manager told La Canfora, “He told Tom Brady he will never play for the Raiders again. That’s a fact. He said he’ll retire before he plays for them again.”
Crosby, however, has publicly denied trade rumors. During an interview on Don’t @ Me w/ Dan Dakich over Super Bowl weekend, the Raiders star insisted he remains committed to the organization.
Despite those statements, reports suggest Crosby was upset about being forced to sit out the final two games of the 2025 season, even though he believed he was healthy enough to play. The Raiders finished 1–1 in those games and still secured the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Following the season, Crosby underwent a minor meniscus repair surgery, according to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport. Rapoport added that Crosby is ahead of schedule in his recovery but is not expected to be medically cleared by the start of the new league year on March 11.
Will Maxx Crosby Be Traded?
This situation feels familiar for Lions fans. Similar scenarios played out last offseason with Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns and Trey Hendrickson of the Cincinnati Bengals. In both cases, the star pass rushers ultimately signed new contracts and stayed put.
A trade for Crosby would also be financially complicated. According to Spotrac, Crosby carries a massive $38.8 million cap hit in 2026. While that number drops below $30 million for the remaining years of his contract through 2030, it would still be difficult for the Lions to absorb given their current salary cap constraints.
Unless Detroit and Las Vegas work out a creative deal — potentially involving a contract swap or a key player such as defensive tackle Alim McNeill — it remains unlikely Crosby will land in Detroit.
Still, as long as Maxx Crosby trade rumors continue to swirl, the Lions will remain linked to the Raiders star. For a Detroit team coming off a 9–8 season and searching for a championship-caliber defense, the idea of adding one of the NFL’s best edge rushers will remain impossible to ignore.
