3 of the best edge rushers available in free agency for the Las Vegas Raiders after trading Maxx Crosby
The Raiders will need an edge rusher or two.
With Maxx Crosby gone, the Las Vegas Raiders face a critical need to strengthen their defense. Crosby was the only standout player on that side of the ball, surrounded by just a few good players and several underperformers.
Not only will they need a bunch of defensive players, but they will also need at least two defensive ends, or edge rushers. They have to replace Crosby, an elite, top player in the league, and have a ton of free agents leaving. As their roster currently stands, they have two guys who have never played consistent NFL football, plus Charles Snowden, Tyree Wilson, and maybe Tonka Hemingway, depending on where this new staff sees him fitting in.
The position group will need a massive overhaul. Luckily, the Raiders have 11 draft picks in the 2026 NFL Draft and $120 million in cap space. Free agency starts first before the draft. So, why don’t we look at the best three edge rushers for the Raiders to potentially sign? There are only a handful of guys, considering the free-agent market for edge rushers isn’t great this offseason.
3 free agent edge rushers for the Raiders in 2026 free agency
Trey Hendrickson, Cincinnati Bengals, 31 years old, projected $25 million a year AAV
The Las Vegas Raiders should at least take a swing at the best edge rusher, and maybe the best player in this free agency class. If they want a star player on the defense after Crosby, especially on that side of the ball. Hendrickson has the third-most sacks in the league since 2019, with 79, ahead of Crosby by 10. He’s an elite pass rusher, one of the best in the league, with some troubles in the run game. However, the Raiders may be able to put great run defenders around him to make up for that. This would be a slam-dunk signing given everything that’s happened. However, there’s certainly a chance this doesn’t happen.
Haason Reddick, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 31, $5 million
Reddick used to be one of the best edge rushers in the league when it came to getting to the passer at an effective rate. However, his days with the Carolina Panthers and Philadelphia Eagles are not the same now as they were then. But the Raiders still need some bodies in the room. Reddick still finished with 34 pressures, three sacks, and an 11.6% pass-rush win rate, which is good enough to get this rebuild started.
Joey Bosa, Buffalo Bills, 30, $13 million
In 2025, when he was available, Bosa was amazing as a pass-rusher off the edge. When it came to the run game, he wasn’t nearly as good and often struggled. However, if you can place players around him that are good in that department, he can still be a very good edge rusher in this league. The question is, how often will he be available? In 2025, Bosa had 47 pressures and five sacks. If he can bring that to the Raiders in 2026, and some of it, it would be a huge pickup.
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