Bills connected to elite defensive playmaker as trade rumors pick up before free agency, but the financial strain is real
This would be a monumental get for Buffalo.
Free agency is right around the corner, and this time of year for NFL fans is like an early Christmas present. Teams are trying to fill out their needs via free agency and the draft, or could look to make a blockbuster trade to add a difference-maker.
Enter Las Vegas Raiders pass rusher Maxx Crosby. While it wouldn’t be a free agent addition, Crosby is reportedly available via trade, and general manager Brandon Beane should do everything in his power to bring him to Western New York.
Crosby is available via trade, and the Buffalo Bills are one of the teams that have been calling in and keeping tabs on the electric pass rusher. Crosby is a one-man wrecking crew on the defensive side of the football and could give new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard another weapon at his disposal.
The Raiders shut down Crosby in 2025, and he’s clearly been unhappy with the organization. The Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears, Baltimore Ravens, New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles, and Los Angeles Rams are teams potentially trying to acquire the talented pass rusher.
The biggest question and concern is what it would take to bring in Crosby. The Las Vegas Raiders are reportedly looking for a deal similar to what the Dallas Cowboys got for star pass rusher Micah Parsons, which was two first-round picks and a player — a steep price to pay for an elite talent.
What would Buffalo have to give up in a trade for Maxx Crosby
It’s an expensive cost, but what exactly would a trade look like from the Bills’ perspective to try to bring in Crosby? It will take a king’s ransom, but sometimes that’s what’s needed.
For the Bills, Dan Mitchell proposed a trade that might seem like a lot, but falls in line with what the Raiders could be asking for. Mitchell posted on X a trade including a 2026 and 2027 first-round pick, along with defensive tackle Ed Oliver, to really spice up the deal. Oliver has been tremendous when healthy, but was unable to see the field much in 2025 due to his torn biceps.
Oliver was mentioned in an ESPN article about potential trade bait, though Jeremy Fowler said the Bills don’t want to move on from Oliver. Nevertheless, if it’s for Maxx Crosby, I think you start to second-guess that ambition.
It’ll take a lot to bring in Crosby, but that’s the cost of bringing in an elite talent, and something that the Bills should seriously consider.
If the Bills are serious about maximizing Josh Allen’s prime and finally getting over the AFC hump, this is the kind of swing you have to consider. Draft picks are great in theory, but proven, All-Pro pass rushers in their prime don’t hit the market often.
Yes, it would hurt. Yes, it would be aggressive. But pairing Crosby with this defense instantly changes the identity of the team and gives Jim Leonhard the type of tone-setter Buffalo has been missing.
If there was ever a time for Beane to push his chips to the center of the table, this might be it.
Buffalo Bills News
Bills positioned to land a proven playmaker who checks every box with a Super Bowl blueprint capable of rewriting history
Brandon Beane should be picking up the phone.
