Maxx Crosby Trade Rumors Take Stunning Turn After Raiders GM Breaks Silence
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
The Las Vegas Raiders continue to face questions about the future of star defensive end Maxx Crosby. Trade rumors have followed Crosby throughout the offseason, and those rumors have not gone away as the regular season approaches.
The drama started when Crosby asked out of Las Vegas. The Raiders agreed to move him and accepted an offer from the Baltimore Ravens that included two first-round draft picks. However, the Ravens later backed out of the deal. That decision kept Crosby in Las Vegas and opened the door for both sides to move forward.
Now that Crosby is healthy and preparing for the season, Raiders general manager John Spytek has addressed the ongoing trade talk.
Spytek Expects Crosby To Stay With Raiders
Crosby did not play in the Raiders’ first preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals. The team chose not to risk one of its top players in a game that carried little importance. Reports from training camp continue to describe Crosby as one of the team’s most dominant players.
Despite the constant rumors, Spytek made it clear that he expects Crosby to remain with the Raiders.
“People do what they do,” Spytek told NFL insider Charles Robinson. “I’m just trying to make the Raiders as good as possible. Right now Maxx is here and I have every expectation that he’ll be here.”
Spytek’s comments came as teams around the league continued to monitor Crosby’s situation. According to Robinson, rival teams regularly ask about the Raiders and often focus on Crosby’s status.
“Other teams are still keeping tabs on Maxx Crosby, so I will, too,” Robinson wrote. He noted that clubs across the AFC West continue to ask about the relationship between Crosby and the Raiders.
While Crosby appears set to start the season in Las Vegas, Robinson believes the trade conversation could return later in the year. He pointed to the possibility that contenders would make aggressive offers if the Raiders struggle before the trade deadline.
“But if the losses pile up, contenders will call with offers that force Las Vegas to at least weigh the short-term upside of Crosby against the long-term value of a good return,” Robinson wrote.
For now, the Raiders are keeping their eyes on the season ahead. Crosby is still the heart and soul of this team, and Spytek has made it clear he has his star player’s back.
Still, as long as other teams keep calling and the trade deadline is in sight, the rumors about Crosby’s future aren’t going away soon.
