NFC Contender Reportedly ‘Nuclear Hot’ On Maxx Crosby Trade That Would Rock The NFL
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
The NFC West just got a lot more interesting. The Los Angeles Rams landed Myles Garrett earlier this offseason in one of the biggest trades in recent NFL history. Now the San Francisco 49ers are hunting for their own answer — and Maxx Crosby is at the top of their list.
Raiders insider Hondo Carpenter said the 49ers are one of two teams leading the chase.
“I am telling you there is a lot of interest in Maxx Crosby,” Carpenter said on the Las Vegas Raiders Insider podcast. “Two teams specifically are nuclear hot: the Eagles and the 49ers.”
Prediction market platform Polymarket currently lists the 49ers as one of the favorites to land Maxx Crosby. San Francisco sits at 48% odds on the Polymarket “Where will Maxx Crosby play in 2026?” market — making them one of the top contenders among all named destinations. That kind of market conviction, backed by real money, reflects the growing belief that this trade has a real chance of happening.
The motivation for San Francisco is clear. The Rams now pair Garrett with Byron Young, Braden Fiske, and Kobie Turner. That gives Los Angeles one of the most feared defensive fronts in football. The 49ers’ response? Pair Maxx Crosby with Nick Bosa and dare anyone to try to score.
The 49ers and Bills remain the likeliest landing spots for Crosby. NFL insider Albert Breer loves the idea of the Niners pursuing him, but suggests waiting to see how the first seven weeks of the season play out before committing draft capital.
Maxx Crosby’s Failed Ravens Trade Opened the Door for the 49ers
This isn’t a new story. Maxx Crosby came within hours of leaving Las Vegas earlier this offseason. The Raiders and Baltimore Ravens agreed to a trade. Then Crosby failed his physical following offseason knee surgery. Baltimore walked away. The deal collapsed, and Crosby returned to the Raiders.
That failed trade changed everything. It confirmed that Las Vegas is open to moving him at the right price. It also flagged health concerns that have since made teams more cautious. The Raiders reportedly want at least two first-round picks in any deal.
Bay Area insider Tim Kawakami believes the 49ers could get a deal done without giving up multiple firsts. He projects San Francisco could offer their first-round pick — No. 27 — plus a few additional picks and potentially package in the return from a Mac Jones trade.
“I don’t think this is going to be a wild-hot auction for a 28-year-old coming off an injury,” Kawakami wrote.
Maxx Crosby Would Give the 49ers One of the NFL’s Best Edge Duos
Maxx Crosby is 28 years old and under contract through 2029. He has recorded 69.5 career sacks. He has hit double-digit sacks in three of the last four NFL seasons.
The 49ers finished dead last in the NFL with just 20 sacks in 2025. Nick Bosa is returning from his second ACL injury. Kyle Shanahan and GM John Lynch need pass rush help badly, and Maxx Crosby fixes that problem immediately. A Crosby-Bosa pairing would instantly become one of the most dangerous edge duos in football.
The Raiders, meanwhile, are not actively shopping him. GM John Spytek said publicly that he expects Crosby to stay in Las Vegas. But Crosby has reportedly made clear he wants out — without making noise about it publicly. If Las Vegas struggles early in the 2026 season and San Francisco is rolling, John Lynch will pick up the phone.
