Maxx Crosby Had No Plans To Leave The Las Vegas Raiders, But Kirk Cousins' Trade Raises New Questions About His Future

Insider reveals Maxx Crosby's stance after Kirk Cousins trade© Getty via AFP

The Las Vegas Raiders made only one move before the NFL trade deadline passed. On Nov. 10, they sent quarterback Kirk Cousins to the Minnesota Vikings for a 2027 third-round pick. Maxx Crosby was not part of the deal, even though his name floated around trade talk for weeks while the Raiders lost four straight games. At 4-5, some teams hoped Las Vegas would cash in on its star edge rusher. NFL insider Jordan Schultz says that is not happening. Crosby stays, and Fernando Mendoza is the quarterback to build around.

Maxx Crosby had no plans to leave the Raiders

Schultz confirmed the calls did come in.

“The Raiders received calls over the last few weeks about DE Maxx Crosby, but the answer was he isn't being moved and is staying in Las Vegas,” Schultz wrote on X on Nov. 10, citing sources. “Some thought that could change with the Kirk Cousins trade today, but Crosby is a Raider, and the future with Fernando Mendoza begins now.”

Crosby had already shut that door himself after the Week 9 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, even with the Raiders one game under .500 and rebuilding.

“I don't pay attention to that at all,” Crosby told reporters after the loss to the 49ers. “I play for the Raiders [and] I expect to play for the Raiders, and that's all that matters to me; I love this team and plan on being here for a very long time.”

Crosby looks healthy and productive at the midpoint of the season. He has played 539 snaps and holds an 85.0 PFF defensive grade. He also has 44 total pressures, five sacks, 24 hurries and 15 QB hits, plus 12 stops and 12 solo tackles.

Kirk Morrison on why the Raiders moved Cousins now

Former Raiders linebacker Kirk Morrison backed the move.

“It's a huge deal, but it's one the Raiders had to make,” Morrison said during a Nov. 10 appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio. “Fernando Mendoza is the future, and there was no right point in the season to put him out there because of how Kirk Cousins has played.

“He's been phenomenal, to be honest. He has 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions, and he's really helped this football team grow culturally. He's been the guy who's helped Klint Kubiak instill his culture.”

The numbers back him up. Cousins posted a 97.1 passer rating over nine games, with 2,340 passing yards, 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions, per StatMuse.