Raiders Prepared To Keep Maxx Crosby; Team To Honor Free Agency Agreements

Las Vegas – Forty-eight hours after the most talked-about non-trade of the 2025 NFL off-season collapsed, the Raiders have circled the wagons around Maxx Crosby. According to multiple league sources, the club’s first move once Baltimore rescinded the deal late Tuesday night was to phone the 28-year-old defensive end and assure him he remains in their plans.

“He was back in the facility at 6 a.m.,” one team staffer told Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, underscoring the organization’s desire to move forward quickly. Crosby, two months removed from a full meniscus repair performed by renowned surgeon Dr. Neal El Attrache, is “ahead of schedule” and intent on participating in the off-season program, agent CJ LaBoy confirmed in a statement released Wednesday morning.

The Raiders’ stance now appears straightforward: honor the free-agent contracts already agreed to when the front office believed Crosby’s $25 million-plus cap charge would be off the books, and simultaneously field exploratory calls on their star pass rusher without actively shopping him. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that “several” suitors checked in after the trade fell apart, but the sense around the league is that no one is rushing to meet Las Vegas’ previous asking price of two first-round picks.

Dallas, considered the runner-up last week, has already stepped back. Instead of reviving an offer built around defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa and draft capital, the Cowboys pivoted, allowing Odighizuwa to be dealt to San Francisco, effectively closing the door on a renewed Crosby pursuit.

Inside the Raiders’ building, the message is that Crosby will be welcomed—provided any lingering friction can be smoothed over. A previous Athletic report highlighted the defensive end’s unease with the expanding influence of minority owner Tom Brady’s long-time business partner, wellness coordinator Alex Guerrero. With Crosby suddenly back in silver and black, mending that relationship may be as critical as mending his knee.

From a financial standpoint, Las Vegas still holds the NFL’s largest remaining salary-cap cushion, giving it flexibility to absorb Crosby’s number while keeping the non-binding agreements struck with new free agents. “They told agents they would honor deals, and they plan to keep their word,” Breer wrote.

For now, the Raiders anticipate opening the season with Crosby anchoring the defensive line. Whether that vision lasts through training camp will depend on how quickly the four-time All-Pro regains full strength—and whether a desperate contender eventually meets a recalibrated price tag before Week 1.

SEO Keywords: