Crosby to the 49ers? Five landing spots as star leaves Raiders originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The Las Vegas Raiders may be on the verge of imploding.
Despite it being Antonio Pierce’s first full season at the helm, Las Vegas didn’t have high expectations to compete right away, especially with Gardner Minshew and sophomore Aidan O’Connell as the main options under center.
Matters got worse when Davante Adams requested a trade and was ultimately dealt to the New York Jets after Week 6, where he was reunited with former Green Bay Packer teammate Aaron Rodgers.
With Adams cut from the picture, the focus shifts to Maxx Crosby. Crosby, 27, is the only star left on the team. The three-time Pro Bowler and two-time Second-Team All-Pro is coming off back-to-back double-digit sack campaigns (12.5 and 14.5, respectively) with 5.5 already to his name in five games.
If Crosby, who is under contract through 2026, doesn’t stay in Vegas, these teams will have to make the decision, even if the price tag is expensive:
Detroit Lions
This one is a no-brainer. The Lions should be in the market for a marquee edge rusher, while Aidan Hutchinson will likely be out for the season due to a broken tibia. While head coach Dan Campbell wouldn’t rule out the potential return of Hutchinson this season, there is no guarantee it will happen and speculation won’t solve any problem. Crosby would maintain the Lions’ status as legitimate NFC contenders while further strengthening them once Hutchinson is healthy.
Washington commanders
The Commanders are living up to their sleeper status early, with Jayden Daniels feeling more than comfortable as a rookie signal caller. That could convince the front office to make a win-now move sooner or later, especially with the NFC East title a strong possibility. Like Detroit, Washington is also dealing with injuries on the defensive line, as Jonathan Allen was ruled out for the year due to a torn pectoral muscle. Crosby won’t close the same gap, but he would be a boost to the team.
Chicago bears
The Bears don’t have to worry about injuries on defense yet, although they do have production issues. After Montez Sweat landed from Washington in 2023, Chicago spent some time figuring out who should play on the other side of him. Darrell Taylor came over from the Seattle Seahawks while DeMarcus Walker got involved, but Crosby would easily be an upgrade for both as Gervon Dexter Sr. shows great potential as an interior player in his second season.
Buffalo Bills
Las Vegas would likely prefer to send Crosby to the opposite conference, although some AFC teams could make sense. One such team has already gotten involved in the trade market, as the Bills addressed their wide receiver woes by acquiring Amari Cooper from the Cleveland Browns. But if they continue to go all-in, Crosby would be an immediate upgrade over Greg Rousseau and AJ Epenesa. If they can somehow get rid of Von Miller’s contract, that would make even more sense.
San Francisco 49ers
To end on a spicy note, the 49ers should at least look around the possibility of this happening. They are in the opposite conference and the rivalry between the two teams is not exactly the same after the move of the Raiders. San Francisco has been hampered by injuries on both sides of the ball, with Javon Hargrave out for the season and new addition Yetur Gross-Matos on injured reserve. Crosby would give the 49ers the reliable star partner for Nick Bosa that they have consistently sought since he was drafted, with names like Dee Ford and Chase Young, among others, falling short. It may not be realistic, but due diligence can’t hurt.
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