The Las Vegas Raiders briefly made defensive end Maxx Crosby the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL by signing him to a three-year, $106.5 million extension. The team locked up its cornerstone defender before the new league year began and can now use the No. 6 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft to address another position of need.
The four-time Pro Bowler recently appeared on NFL Network and made a bold statement about his future in Las Vegas.
Maxx Crosby Says ‘I’m Silver and Black to the Core’
Crosby, a fourth-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, has been the heart of the Raiders’ pass rush since he arrived. He has accounted for 30% of the team’s sacks and 35% of their pressures in his six-year career. No player has a higher share of his team’s pressures in that span, and only Myles Garrett and T.J. Watt have accounted for a higher share of their team’s sacks.
Since entering the NFL, Crosby has recorded 59.5 sacks and 423 pressures, ranking fifth in sacks and second in pressures, behind only Garrett (425). Crosby has been one of the league’s most dominant defensive players over the last four seasons, making the Pro Bowl each year. In 2022 and 2023, he led the league in tackles for loss with 22 and 23, respectively. He posted 12.5 and 14.5 sacks in those seasons and finished with 7.5 in 12 games last year.
Before missing five games last season, Crosby had been an ironman. Between 2020 and 2023, he played 88.5% of the Raiders’ defensive snaps. No other edge rusher played more than 77.3% of his team’s snaps in that span.
Crosby suffered an ankle injury in Week 2 but played through it until being ruled out ahead of Week 15. He ultimately opted for surgery and missed the rest of the season.
Recently, on NFL Network’s free agency coverage, Crosby emphasized his commitment to the Raiders, saying, “I want to be the best Raider ever.”
He spoke about his new contract, saying:
“The whole process was an absolute blessing. With how I approach every single day, I’m just focused on getting better and focused on football. That’s my main priority every single day, and I want to be the best at what I do.”
“I wanted to get it done and focus strictly on football because that’s all that matters to me. I’m trying to get a gold jacket. I’m trying to win Super Bowl rings. I’m blessed to be in a situation where I could reset the market and set history — for a few days.”
When asked about Myles Garrett requesting a trade and whether he has ever thought about playing elsewhere, Crosby responded:
“The last two years, the trade rumors have been out of this world, and it started from other fan bases. After AP [Antonio Pierce] got fired, it put me in limbo, like, ‘Am I ready to do this again?’ My fifth head coach in less than seven years, which is crazy.”
“I had the contract coming up, so I really had to figure out what’s best for me. Obviously, my No. 1 option was Las Vegas. I want to be here. I want to be not only the greatest Raider but the greatest to do it, period. So I want to do it in one jersey.”
“I feel like everything happens for a reason, and I’m meant to be a Raider. I got it tatted on me. I feel like I’m Silver and Black to the core, and I got drafted here for a reason.”
Crosby currently ranks fifth on the Raiders’ career sack list. He trails Greg Townsend, who had 107.5 sacks during his time with the franchise. He still has plenty of time left in his career to become the franchise leader, but that isn’t enough for the six-year pro. A gold jacket and multiple Super Bowl rings are lofty ambitions, but Crosby has the mindset to help get his team to the top of the mountain.