Change is coming to Las Vegas following Monday’s firing of head coach Pete Carroll, and it remains to be seen if the team’s biggest defensive star will be part of the new era.
Speaking to the media after the Raiders concluded the regular season at 3-14, general manager John Spytek was asked if star defensive end Maxx Crosby is seen as “untradeable” or “untouchable” following a tumultuous finish to the year, when he walked out of the facility after being shut down for the final two games of the season amid a mid-season knee injury.
“I have a lot of respect for Maxx and how much he loves to play the game. I’ve had the opportunity in the last several weeks to spend a lot of time with Maxx and I think it’s been well documented that he didn’t love the idea of not playing football. You always want that from your best players and I think that’s why they’re your best players,” Spytek said, according to Sports Illustrated.
The Raiders exec added Crosby “embodies what a Raider is,” a sentiment he “continue[s] to believe.”
A fourth-round pick out of Eastern Michigan in 2019, Crosby has been a constant for the Raiders, even amid personnel upheaval, particularly the revolving door at head coach.
However, two days before the Raiders fired Carroll after one disappointing season at the helm, The Athletic reported “many believe Las Vegas will be open to moving its star pass rusher” if relations remain icy.
Despite the messy fallout from Crosby’s walkout, the 28-year-old was at Allegiant Stadium Sunday for the team’s final game of the year, a 14-12 victory over the Chiefs.
With the team now searching for its fourth head coach since 2022 — an initiative that will be guided by Spytek and minority owner Tom Brady — perhaps Las Vegas’ new leader will have input about Crosby’s future, whether that’s in Las Vegas or elsewhere.
Crosby agreed to a three-year, $106.5 million extension with the Raiders before the 2025 season.
