New England Patriots
The Athletic’s Dianna Russini said Crosby “had his eye on the Patriots” and two other teams.
Star defensive end Maxx Crosby will reportedly be traded to the Baltimore Ravens when the new NFL year begins next week. AP Photo/Maria Lysaker
The Patriots can cross defensive end Maxx Crosby off their offseason wishlist.
The Las Vegas Raiders are reportedly trading Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for two first-round draft picks, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The Raiders are reportedly receiving the Ravens’ No. 14 pick in next month’s draft and their 2027 first-rounder.
Despite public denials about wanting a Crosby departure, including the player himself, Las Vegas’ new head coach, and their general manager, rumors circulated for months that Crosby could wind up on the trade block in pursuit of a new home. New England, like many other teams, came up as a possible trade candidate for the standout edge rusher.
Crosby, 28, himself told The Athletic’s Dianna Russini that he wanted to play for Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel in New England, she said on 98.5 The Sports Hub’s “Zolak and Bertrand” last month.
“Maxx Crosby doesn’t seem too happy in Las Vegas. Is he going to ask for one officially and ask out? Is that a guy? I can tell you, I know he wants to play for Mike Vrabel. He’s told me before,” Russini said.
Crosby, a five-time Pro Bowler who has recorded 69.5 career sacks since entering the NFL in 2019, “had his eye on the Patriots,” Russini shared on X Friday. He also had the Dallas Cowboys on his radar, per Russini; they were reportedly willing to offer a first-round and second-round pick for Crosby, according to Schefter.
With the player under contract through 2029 and possessing a $35.8 million cap hit in 2026, New England would have financially been able to make a trade work. However, it seems unlikely that the Patriots would have been willing to match or best Baltimore’s winning offer when it came to compensation. New England has the No. 31 overall pick in this year’s Draft while the Ravens had the 14th.
The Patriots’ defense was one of the league’s best in 2025, aiding in the team’s unprecedented Super Bowl LX run. The addition of Crosby would have majorly bolstered an already stacked defense that looks like it will mostly be run back in 2026.
In last season’s Week 1 victory against New England, Crosby recorded one sack and two quarterback hits on Drake Maye.
Swinging and missing on Crosby shouldn’t deter New England from making trades or a big-splash signing elsewhere, though. The Patriots reportedly made an offer to the Philadelphia Eagles for A.J. Brown, who also has a steep asking price.
With over $60 million in cap space to work with when free agency begins, New England should be aggressive on the trade and free agent markets.
Kaley Brown
Kaley Brown is a sports producer for Boston.com, where she covers the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox.
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