Getty
Las Vegas edge rusher Maxx Crosby watches the Raiders play teh Kansas City Chiefs on January 4, 2026.
The Washington Commanders need edge help, and Bleacher Report believes that Maxx Crosby should be their top trade target. Alex Ballantine suggests that Washington’s cap space could play a vital part in the signing.
“That would enable them to chase big names like Maxx Crosby and Tyreek Hill. Both might be unhappy with their current situations, but carry major financial obligations for any team that trades for them.”
According to Spotrac, the Commanders currently enjoy $67,994,031 of available cap room, which makes the trade feasible. Furthermore, under new head coach Klint Kubiak and with the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Raiders could be looking to rebuild. For Crosby, who turns 29 on August 22, the time to leave for a team that appears further along in the process could become an attractive offer.
Kubiak will be Crosby’s sixth head coach since 2020, and the team’s 11th since 2010. The Raiders placed the edge rusher on injured reserve for the last two games of the 2025 season. Many believe that this was a move to secure the top pick in this spring’s draft. Meanwhile, Crosby did not take kindly to the move, stating on his podcast.
“When it comes to football, there’s certain things that I truly believe in, and I feel like there’s core principles that you gotta live by, and there’s a certain way the game needs to be played,” Crosby said. “And there’s a certain approach that you have when you go into the field. And the way you look at it, from my perspective, is you play to win. ”
GettyLas Vegas Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby before a November 23, 2025 game.
Writer Believes Trade for Raiders DE Maxx Crosby is Feasible
Ballantine did not discuss the logistics of the deal regarding what the Raiders would receive in return. In the last couple of years, elite players usually fetch at least two first-round draft picks. In that case, the Commanders would need to send this year’s selection (No. 7) and, more than likely, next year’s top pick as well. Additionally, the Commanders would be on the hook for this year’s salary ($30,782,000) and the next three seasons, totaling $85.3 million.
The precedent for the Raiders to ship Pro Bowlers away for first-round draft picks. In 2018, they sent edge rusher Khalil Mack, a second, a conditional fifth, and a seventh-rounder to the Chicago Bears for two first-rounders, a third, and a sixth. Later that season, the team sent wideout Amari Cooper to Dallas for a first-rounder.
How Maxx Crosby Fits in Washington
If the Commanders swing a deal, they will employ an edge rusher who can play standing up or in a three-point stance. Moreover, Crosby is adept at stunts that loop back inside to pressure quarterbacks up the middle. In seven seasons, Crosby amassed 69.5 sacks and 311 hurries. Pro Football Focus ranked him No. 22 with a pass rush grade of 77.1.
On the field, combining Crosby with Daron Payne and Jer’Zhan Newton gives Washington three-fourths of a formidable front. If new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones wants to install a 3-4, Crosby could easily slide to rush end. By the same token, if a 4-3 or 4-2-5 is the call, Crosby can play either defensive end spot.
GettyLas Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby during a September 18, 2025 game.
Crosby Trade Gives “Win-Now” Vibe
Any trade of Crosby’s stature would signal that the team, under Dan Quinn, wants to win immediately. Two years ago, with a rookie quarterback, the team reached the NFC Champiopnship game. After struggling in 2025, making a big trade could help the Commanders return to the playoffs.
GettyWashington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn and quarterback Jayden Daniels during an August 10, 2024 preseason game.
However, with a Top-10 pick, the team could draft an edge rusher like Texas Tech’s David Bailey, who would not require draft capital or a large cap hit. Either way, the organization could end up solving its edge-rush problems in the long term.
Terrance Biggs Terrance started at heavy.com in January 2026
He is a veteran sportswriter with 12 years of experience, covering NFL, College, and MLB. Terrance has held positions at Sports Illustrated and Pro Football Sports Network. A graduate of Fort Hays State University with a bachelor’s in Communication, he is also a voting member of the Football Writers Association of America, United States Basketball Writers Association and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. More about Terrance Biggs
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