The Jacksonville Jaguars are coming off an impressive 2025. Expected to win six or seven games in Year 1 of the Liam Coen era, they instead went 13-4 and dethroned the Houston Texans as the AFC South champions. Now, the Jags enter the offseason needing to replenish a roster that has no shortage of talent but also needs reinforcements at several key positions.
Defensive tackle is arguably the Jags' biggest need, but the pass rush could also use a huge boost in spite of all the resources they've poured in since 2019. The team's brass will have no shortage of options to help Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker. But if Jacksonville truly wants to swing for the fences, star defensive Maxx Crosby may be the best choice.
Jaguars alum Maurice Jones-Drew already brougth up the Jags as a trade destination for Crosby, while Michael DiRocco of ESPN sees the five-time Pro Bowl selection as an option to fortify the pass rush.
ESPN raises the possibility of the Jaguars trading for Maxx Crosby
NFL Nation at ESPN drew up a list of offseason questions for each NFL team. Michael DiRocco asked how the Jaguars plan to address the pass rush, wondering whether trading for Maxx Crosby would be a realistic possibility. Here's the skinny.
"The Jaguars must make getting the quarterback on the ground a priority; they ranked third in QB pressures (222) but 27th in sacks (32) in 2025," DiRocco wrote. "This year's class of edge rushers is regarded to be pretty deep, which is good since Jacksonville doesn't have a first-round pick because of the Travis Hunter trade last year. Could the Jags get involved in the pursuit of the Raiders' Maxx Crosby?"
A fourth-round pick in 2019, Crosby is one of the top pass rushers in the NFL, registering 69.5 sacks the past seven seasons. However, his relationship with the Las Vegas Raiders has deteriorated since the team shut him down late in 2025 despite the fact that he wanted to suit up. The Condor has since been the subject of trade speculation.
Crosby has yet to address the trade chatter, but if the Raiders make him available, he'll have no shortage of suitors. The issue is that acquiring him may not be cheap. The former East Michigan Eagle could fetch as much as two first-round picks, or a first-round pick and a player.
As DiRocco noted, the Jaguars don't have their 2026 first-round pick because they gave it up as part of the Travis Hunter trade last year. That said, they still have their second in 2026 and their first next year. Jacksonville could even put together a package that includes wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr.
What could prevent the Jaguars from trading for Maxx Crosby
Keep in mind that there are no legitimate reports connecting Maxx Crosby to the Jaguars. Michael DiRocco and Maurice Jones-Drew are simply raising the possibility. That said, he would turbocharge the Jacksonville pass rush without a doubt.
Even if the Jags don't add reinforcements at defensive tackle, having Crosby play opposite Josh Hines-Allen, with Travon Walker as part of the rotation, would make it extremely difficult for opponents to contain the Jacksonville front four.
Having said that, the Jaguars would need to give up significant resources for Crosby. Aside from the compensation to get a deal done, they would also need to take on his contract. He's slated to make around $29 million each of the three years, which is a fair price to pay for a top-end pass rusher. That said, it would leave Jacksonville devoid of assets to address other pressing needs this offseason.
The bottom line is that the Jaguars cannot rule out the possibility of trading for Maxx Crosby. However, the price that comes with it is too high to ignore.