The Green Bay Packers have spoken about the need for more urgency. Josh Jacobs plans to recruit players this offseason.
The conversation must start with All-Pro edge-rusher Maxx Crosby, who Jacobs knows well from his time in Las Vegas.
Crosby remains under contract for two more years, but with the Raiders hitting the reset button this offseason, it could make sense to entertain offers. Las Vegas could clear cap space while landing premium draft capital, while Crosby can push for a Super Bowl while the Raiders rebuild.
Enter the Packers?
Green Bay isn't known for its blockbuster trades. General manager Brian Gutekunst is often "in the conversation" but hasn't acquired a player in a big-time swap to this point. Gutekunst said "you better be right" if you trade a high pick for a veteran player, as you are taking on their contract and giving up premium draft capital.
Sometimes, it's worth doing.
Proposed trade has Packers landing Maxx Crosby for a surprisingly affordable price
What would it take to land Crosby? A first-round pick? Multiple? Perhaps not. The 33rd Team's Tyler Brooke compiled a list of potential trades we could see this offseason. It includes the Packers landing Crosby for a 2025 second-round pick and a 2026 third-rounder. We'd absolutely take that.
"Crosby would come in and be an immediate difference-maker in Hafley's defense. He had 54 pressures and 7.5 sacks in just 12 games this year and is also a disruptive player against the run," writes Brooke.
Would the Raiders accept that? They would surely want at least a first-rounder. If I were Brian Gutekunst, I'd even offer Jaire Alexander in this package if necessary, although the Raiders may prefer to avoid his huge contract.
Landing Crosby and only giving up one pick in this year's draft and not a first-rounder wouldn't just be a home run, it would be the grand slam of all grand slams.
It's also a low-risk move. What's the worst-case scenario? Crosby suddenly stops being an All-Pro pass-rusher? The Packers would only give up a second and a third, and let's be honest, they spent about a decade burning third-round picks until Sean Rhyan and Tucker Kraft showed up.
It's hard to believe the Raiders would give up Crosby for a good but not great package. It's less than they sent to Green Bay for Davante Adams in 2022 — the Packers netted a first- and second-rounder.
The Packers should pick up the phone and ask. If the Raiders are open to a trade, Gutekunst should make it happen.