Crosby returned to the Raiders.
He is reportedly in a better place with the organization than he was before.
But the situation is far from settled, and the Los Angeles Rams have emerged as the team most likely to revisit it later this year.
Nate Atkins of The Athletic identified the Rams as a team to watch for a Crosby trade in a recent mailbag response, with a specific note about their willingness to spend future draft capital to make it happen.
"I'd also keep an eye on Maxx Crosby," Atkins wrote. "He seems to have mended things with the Las Vegas Raiders after the trade to the Baltimore Ravens was reversed, but the organization's approach could change if the Raiders hit another tough start to a season. The Rams want to be one of the rare teams willing to trade from an expectedly loaded 2027 draft class, with the idea that they'll be picking at the very end of the first round. But those conversations are more likely in October than they are right now."
Why the Rams Make So Much Sense
The Rams already moved their 29th overall pick to Kansas City for Trent McDuffie this offseason, and Les Snead told The Pat McAfee Show shortly after that drafting Ty Simpson at 13th overall with a quarterback plan in place actually gave them more flexibility to use their remaining picks for proven players.
🚨🚨 The #Rams may be willing to trade their 2027 1st-round pick mid-season to acquire #Raiders Maxx Crosby #RamsHouse
— NFL Rumors (@nflrums) May 10, 2026
"We can now maybe use those picks to add different players to chase special with Matthew," Snead said. "Whether it's through the draft or doing what we did with Trent McDuffie and adding a veteran."
Crosby is 28 years old, had 10 sacks in 2025 across a season with a ton of trade drama and organizational uncertainty, and enters 2026 with a contract carrying $30.7 million in 2026 salary and $29.7 million guaranteed in 2027.
Adding him to a defensive front that already includes Braden Fiske, Jared Verse, Byron Young, and Josaiah Stewart would make the Rams' pass rush perhaps the most feared in football.
And Crosby himself has publicly spoken about his love for Los Angeles on multiple occasions.
Why the Timing Matters
The Raiders open 2026 with a roster full of new pieces, including a new offensive system around first overall pick Fernando Mendoza, which could very realistically lead to a slow start.
If Las Vegas is sitting at 1-6 in October and Crosby is producing at his usual level, the trade market context changes dramatically.
At that point, the Raiders gain maximum leverage to sell high on an asset they do not want to keep through a rebuild, and the Rams have a clear path to acquire an elite edge rusher without having to surrender anything from the current roster.
🚨🚨#Rams were very serious about trading for #Raiders Maxx Crosby this offseason
— NFL Rumors (@nflrums) May 8, 2026
Davante Adams wanted Maxx to join him in LA pic.twitter.com/uo09710hVo
A late 2027 first-rounder, given that the Rams project as a perennial contender and the 2027 class is considered stronger than this year's, is the kind of currency Snead has shown he's willing to spend.
Photo Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
