Teams better be ready to pay up if the Maxx Crosby sweepstakes kick off

It used to be that the NFL trade deadline passed by with little notice, a holiday reserved for the true football heads.

Sure, there would always be some minor deals that come under the wire, but teams were often content with their cores and confident that they could win a championship with the roster they had spent the spring and summer building.

Over the past couple of years, however, that philosophy has completely turned on its head, and this season is already looking like a barnburner in terms of transactions. Joey Porter Jr., JJ McCarthy and Marvin Harrison Jr. have been some of the headlining moves already made in the past month alone.

The trade mill was kicked into further overdrive this week, with the Indianapolis Colts beginning their fire sale by trading guard Quenton Nelson and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers, respectively. On Wednesday, another bombshell report confirmed that the Tennessee Titans moved stalwart defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons to the Chicago Bears for a package headlined by two first-round picks.

With some of the major pieces off the board, trade season in the NFL has officially begun, and the next couple of weeks are sure to see contenders circling the bottom-feeders of the league like sharks, hoping to grab an additional piece or two to prepare for the mad dash to the postseason.

It should be no surprise, then, that fans and pundits alike are beginning to ask about the availability of Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby, as has become what feels like a yearly tradition.

Typically, it would be easy to dismiss this as empty chatter. For reasons either regarding price or the Raiders simply not making Crosby available, no deal has ever materialized.

However, this season brings some level of renewed optimism for fanbases who have wanted to see their teams pry the perennial Pro Bowler away from Las Vegas.

This offseason, the Raiders did end up finding a taker on Crosby, as the Baltimore Ravens agreed to a deal that saw two first-round picks shipped off to Las Vegas. It appeared as though the Raiders were getting ready for a rebuild, but a failed physical with the Ravens ultimately lead to the deal being called off. Crosby would return to Las Vegas, while the Ravens would later sign Trey Hendrickson for their edge rushing needs.

With the Raiders now dropping four straight games and the schedule continuing its difficult stretch after Sunday against the New York Jets, some are wondering if a continued losing streak would be enough to give John Spytek another call.

The Raiders seem to be acutely aware of the situation themselves, especially as the league around them transforms throughout a matter of days.

“We’re talking every day about those things,” said Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak on Wednesday. “[Spytek] and his staff do a great job. That’s every day in the NFL, especially this close to the deadline, you’re talking about scenarios.”

It should be noted that there is a difference between taking calls for Crosby and the edge rusher truly being available. If one team already got the Raiders to say yes to two first-round picks, it stands to reason that that will be the bare minimum offered to get them to say yes again. Teams like the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys will certainly express interest, but what stops them from balking at the price point and looking for cheaper options?

In fairness, it is difficult to come up with a reason why the Raiders would not try to get maximum value on their longtime star defensive lineman. Crosby is still playing at an elite level despite challenges on the defensive unit, and his contract runs through 2029 with the last two years being at a team-friendly rate. That is not the kind of player teams give up without a heavy price tag attached.

“It’s the consistency of disruption,” said Raiders defensive coordinator Rob Leonard on what Crosby brings to the unit. “That extra second of getting the quarterback on the ground and the production and the stats that always come in time if we just keep getting swings at the bat.”

For what it’s worth, Crosby has continued to play the good soldier role, willing to take the tough times in stride to get the Raiders to where they want to go.

“There’s always going to be hard times, you know what I mean? It’s part of this league,” said Crosby on Wednesday.

“It’s difficult to win in this game. You start off 3-0 and the whole world is patting you on the back, and then all of a sudden you lose four in a row and now it’s the complete opposite. That’s life…that’s adversity. You got to go through hard things to achieve great things.”

That style of leadership has resonated with his teammates, and the defensive unit is willing to make a push to respond to the recent struggles.

“He’s a dog. He brings it every day. Raises the standard,” said edge rusher Kwity Paye, who has played the majority of his snaps alongside Crosby.

“We’re all chasing that standard as well. Just trying to feed off his energy, bring his style of play to the whole defense.”

With some time to go until the trade deadline on Nov. 10, the Raiders have a couple more games before they decide on what their destiny is this season. It is a choice that will hinge on whether they view Crosby as a perfect piece on their chessboard, or the kingmaker for someone else.