![\"Maxx](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2240643547-1-2-2.jpg\")
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\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
The Detroit Lions finally snag their dream edge in Maxx Crosby in this original draft-day trade pitch. Welcome to the D, Crosby.<\/p>\n
Even if Detroit Lions<\/a> general manager Brad Holmes doesn\u2019t want to admit it, the team has a roster need in the pass rusher position<\/a>.<\/p>\n Sure, they have an elite edge in Aidan Hutchinson<\/a>, but he can\u2019t do it alone, and the team has ignored a need for a player to pair with him for years.<\/p>\n While Holmes hasn\u2019t expressed interest<\/a> in shelving out bags in a flashy trade deal or free agency move to secure edge help, let\u2019s pretend he comes to his senses. Las Vegas Raiders<\/a> pass rusher Maxx Crosby<\/a> is back with the franchise after a defunct deal with the Baltimore Ravens<\/a>, and he could be on the trade block. So, is the 2026 NFL<\/a> draft the place where Crosby will finally come home to Michigan?<\/p>\n Original Trade Pitch: Detroit Lions Get Maxx Crosby From Las Vegas Raiders<\/p>\n In this original trade pitch, the Detroit Lions get Crosby and the Las Vegas Raiders get their No. 17 pick<\/a> in Round 1 and a second-rounder in 2027. Sure, it would hurt to part with that No. 17 selection, but the Lions can find a solid offensive tackle later in the draft.<\/p>\n The Detroit Lions\u2019 two top needs are offensive tackle and pass rusher. If the team stays put and drafts a tackle at No. 17, they\u2019ll be able to get a reasonable player who can perhaps start at right tackle as a rookie, which the Lions can accommodate by moving Penei Sewell to the left side.<\/p>\n But, if Detroit is more inclined to take a pass-rusher in Round 1, then making a move for Crosby brings in a better and more proven asset in 2026 and for the next two seasons.<\/p>\n Crosby went for two firsts to the Ravens before Baltimore took back the trade back citing an issue with the five-time Pro Bowler\u2019s physical. Las Vegas isn\u2019t getting two firsts for an edge in his late 20s from anyone else. But, the 17th pick and a second-rounder in a 2027 class, which is projected to be excellent across several positions, is a good return.<\/p>\n If the Lions and Raiders were to pull this off, I have to say it would be the talk of the 2026 NFL draft. It would even be bigger than when Crosby came back from the Ravens to the Raiders. Let\u2019s cross our fingers and hope it happens.<\/p>\n Another Option for the Detroit Lions in the 2026 NFL Draft<\/p>\n Let\u2019s say the Lions play it safe and just keep their No. 17. That\u2019s totally fine, because this is a rich draft class, and there\u2019s a lot of potential in all three rounds.<\/p>\n In his final draft projection released on Wednesday, April 22, Rob Rang of Fox Sports has the Lions<\/a> use No. 17 to take the safe choice of offensive tackle Monroe Freeling from Georgia.<\/p>\n \u201cSure, All-Pro right tackle Penei Sewell<\/a> can handle the switch to left tackle, but if arguably the best blindside blocker of this class happens to be available, GM Brad Holmes shouldn\u2019t overthink things,\u201d he notes in the piece.<\/p>\n Freeling only has experience as a starter for one year, so that\u2019s a bit troubling. But, at 6\u20197\u2033 and 315-pounds, he has the ideal frame for a tackle and would fit well in the Detroit Lions\u2019 scheme.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tAnne Erickson<\/a> is an award-winning reporter for Heavy Sports covering the NFL, NBA and college football. Anne Erickson has years of experience covering the NFL and additional sports, and her work has been published via ESPN, Fox Sports and more. She has interviewed some of the biggest names in sports, including Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff. Erickson also hosts several podcasts and is a Detroit-based radio host. More about Anne Erickson<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tMore Heavy on Lions\n\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\tLoading more stories\n\t\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Getty The Detroit Lions finally snag their dream edge in Maxx Crosby in this original draft-day trade pitch.…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":872296,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2071],"tags":[146,113,2506,7,147,6],"class_list":{"0":"post-872295","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-detroit-lions","8":"tag-detroit","9":"tag-detroit-lions","10":"tag-detroitlions","11":"tag-football","12":"tag-lions","13":"tag-nfl"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/116451214429797623","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/872295","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=872295"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/872295\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/872296"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=872295"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=872295"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=872295"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}