Maxx Crosby Expected To “Demand” Trade To NFC Powerhouse That Would Flip The Super Bowl Odds
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
Maxx Crosby could become one of the biggest names to watch if the Las Vegas Raiders struggle during the 2026 NFL season. Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport believes the star edge rusher could eventually ask out, and he sees the San Francisco 49ers as a landing spot that makes plenty of sense.
If that happens, it would be one of the craziest moves in the NFL. The 49ers already have one of the league’s best defensive players in Nick Bosa, but injuries have raised concerns about the rest of their defensive line. Adding Crosby would give them another elite pass rusher, make their defense even more dangerous, and boost their chances of competing for the NFC title.
Davenport placed Crosby at the top of his list of NFL stars most likely to seek a trade. He pointed to San Francisco as a destination Crosby likely would not mind.
“There are multiple contenders who could use the services of an elite edge-rusher who just logged 10 sacks and 28 tackles for loss in an injury-shortened 2025 campaign,” Davenport wrote on July 15. “And Crosby is easily the most valuable trade chip Las Vegas has. Crosby may not be publicly demanding a trade yet, but he wouldn’t be annoyed if he wound up in, say, San Francisco. And that demand may yet come, especially if the Raiders struggle in 2026.”
Injury Concerns Follow Both Crosby And The 49ers
Crosby is still working his way back from surgery to repair a torn meniscus. The injury also played a major role in one of the offseason’s biggest stories.
The Raiders agreed to trade Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens for two first-round picks. The deal fell apart after Baltimore reviewed Crosby’s medical evaluation.
“The Baltimore Ravens have backed out of our trade agreement for Maxx Crosby,” the Raiders said in a statement shared by ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter on March 10. “We will have no further comment at this time.”
Ravens backed out of the Maxx Crosby trade. pic.twitter.com/N0Wy1m3WTZ
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 10, 2026
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport later explained the situation.
“Maxx Crosby had surgery to repair his meniscus right around the end of the season, and meniscus recoveries take 3-4 months,” Rapoport said. “… it appears the Ravens are just not comfortable with what they found during the medical exams for Maxx Crosby, so now the trade is off.”
San Francisco also faces serious health concerns with edge rushers. Nick Bosa appeared in only three games during the 2025 season before he tore his ACL. Former first-round pick Mykel Williams also continues his recovery from a torn ACL after suffering the injury in Week 9 of his rookie season.
Pro Football Focus reporter Bradley Locker believes Williams must take a major step forward in 2026. He noted Williams finished with a 51.9 pass-rush grade, ranked 90th among 95 qualified edge defenders, and recorded only 19 pressures before his injury.
If Crosby eventually pushes for a trade, the 49ers could become one of the most talked-about teams in the NFL. Even so, any deal would come with one obvious question. Can San Francisco afford another elite pass rusher while counting on two players returning from major knee injuries?
