With general manager James Gladstone leading the way, the Jacksonville Jaguars have shown that they're not afraid to swing for the fences, having made several trades to address the larger scale roster last year. That's why the prospect of trading for a player like Maxx Crosby to bolster the pass rush isn't far-fetched, as steep as the price could be, isn't far-fetched.
Having said that, the Jags cannot target Crosby at the expense of other needs. This is why the Las Vegas Raiders' asking reported price for the five-time Pro Bowl nod would ultimately disuade them from pulling the trigger.
The Jaguars might need to pay a king's ransom for Maxx Crosby
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports that the Raiders would be willing to move Maxx Crosby if other teams meet their price, noting that it would take two first-round selections and a player to get a deal done.
"Per a league source, the Raiders are looking for two first-round picks and a player for the 28-year-old edge rusher," Florio wrote. "That's what the Cowboys got for Micah Parsons in August, with the player being defensive lineman Kenny Clark."
This isn't necessarily breaking news, but rather confirmation that trading for Crosby won't come cheap. Aside from compensating Las Vegas, any teams interested in his services would need to take on his contract, which pays him around $29 million per year through 2028.
A fourth-round pick in 2019, Crosby has established himself as a premier pass rusher in the NFL in seven seasons with the Silver & Black, registering 69.5 sacks in that span. That said, the former East Michigan Eagle wasn't thrilled with their decision to put him on Injured Reserve late in the 2025 season. His displeasure has led to trade speculation, which he hasn't emphatically put to rest this offseason.
The Raiders' asking price for Maxx Crosby could scare the Jaguars
Earlier in February, Michael DiRocco of ESPN wondered if the Jaguars should make a run for Maxx Crosby. They most definitely should, as he could take their pass rush to the next level alongside Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker. On the other hand, Jacksonville simply doesn't have the resources to get a deal done.
Last year, the Jags gave up their first-round pick in 2026 in order to trade up for Travis Hunter, but could offer their first-round selections in 2027 and 2028. Jacksonville could then add wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. to the trade package, but that may be a hefty price to pay to fortify the pass rush. And that's without taking Crosby's contract into account, which could be extremely challenging when you take into account that they're currently $15.9 million over the cap.
This is a long-winded way to say that the Jagscould most definitely meet the Raiders' asking price for Maxx Crosby, but that doesn't mean that they should, as it would severely hinder their ability to address other needs and re-sign their own players the next couple years.
In the end, the Jaguars may be better off ruling out the possibility of trading for Maxx Crosby, especially when you take into account that they may have less expensive, albeit unproven alternatives, in the NFL Draft.