Would this trade work?
Joe votes no. 👎
Do the Bucs need an edge rusher? Does Joe need a cold beer on a Florida afternoon on a Friday in July?
Damn right the Bucs need an edge rusher. Joe is convinced a serious edge rusher could turn a poor defense with bad pass coverage into an average defense, or even better.
But Joe isn’t willing to be irresponsible. Ever since NFL insiders have noted Maxx Crosby is peeved at the Raiders, and allegedly at co-owner and former Bucs quarterback Tom Brady and his right-hand salesman/pitchman/voodoo high priest/pseudoscientist Alex Guerrero, folks have been connecting the dots that the Bucs could trade for Crosby.
The trick here is that Crosby, 28, is damaged goods. He blew out a knee late in the season, which was allegedly the crux for why Crosby reportedly became outraged at Guerrero, Brady and the Raiders. They wanted him to sit the final two games (and in the process, help tank for top quarterback prospect, Heisman Trophy-winner and national champion Fernano Mendoza of Indiana).
So over at BSPN, the four-letter picked four teams that need an edge rush, could use Crosby, and proposed what would be fair trades for him.
With the Bucs, Ben Solak thinks a package deal with a fan favorite and a high draft pick is fair compensation.
Raiders get: WR Chris Godwin Jr., 2026 first-round pick (No. 15 overall), 2027 second-round pick.
Buccaneers get: Crosby, 2027 fifth-round pick.
Why this deal makes sense: Raiders general manager John Spytek worked under Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht for years in Tampa Bay, so he would likely value Godwin more than most other teams. Godwin would be a target sponge in Las Vegas and give Kubiak a quality blocking receiver. Godwin and a first-round pick, along with some more finagling in the middle rounds, should get the deal done.
Crosby would solve the edge-rushing problem Tampa Bay has been unable to fix for years. The Bucs haven’t had a player reach 10 sacks in a single season since Shaquil Barrett in 2021; Crosby has done it in each of the past four seasons.
Joe doesn’t like this for the Bucs for a few reasons. And if you are Las Vegas, and are rebuilding, why would you want Chris Godwin who is on the wrong side of 30? Raiders GM and former Bucs suit John Spytek would likely want Jalen McMillan over Godwin.
Crosby is damaged goods. No way is Joe coughing up a first-round pick for a guy pushing 29 who is coming off knee surgery.
Another reason Joe doesn’t like this is, would Bucs coach Todd Bowles be willing to change his defense and let edge rushers, you know, rush the friggin’ passer regularly? Joe is dubious.
But Joe, Bowles had edge rushers get after the quarterback with the Bucs. Yes he did, when Bucco Bruce Arians was the head coach.
So, mix in Joe’s suspicion Bowles would just let Crosby do what he does best, and Crosby’s bum knee along with his $30 million salary for 2026, Joe would prefer the Bucs just go out and buy a free agent.
Now if Spytek would lower his demands and make a draft pick conditional on Crosby’s production, then Joe is willing to talk turkey.