Should the Buccaneers not trade for Raiders All-Pro Maxx Crosby?

There’s no denying Maxx Crosby is one of the best pass rushers in football, but before the Buccaneers mortgage their future for him, there are some real reasons to pump the brakes on that idea. First, let’s talk money. Crosby is under a three-year, $106.5 million contract with the Raiders, with roughly $62.5 million in guaranteed money.

A team that trades for him would take on that cap hit up front, which isn’t just a number it directly affects what else the Buccaneers could do in free agency or contract extensions. The Raiders could eat a good portion of Crosby's 2026 salary, but would still have cap hits of 29, 27, and 28 million for the next three seasons.

That’s where the biggest issue for Tampa Bay comes in: their own free agents and core players.

The Bucs have players they need to pay this offseason, including their own ironman, Mike Evans, Jamel Dean, and possibly Lavonte David if he decides to continue playing. Not to mention those who are next up for contracts, such as Vita Vea and Yaya Diaby, Crosby’s cap number might make it harder to keep those players in town. Draft picks are one thing, but giving up future salary cap flexibility on top of picks could lead to a roster that can’t keep its best pieces together long term.

On the draft capital side, fans are talking about packages that could look similar to what other star edge rushers fetched: a first-rounder and at least a second-round pick, possibly more. That kind of haul might weaken the Bucs’ ability to address multiple areas of need in the draft, something they have been able to nail the last few seasons.There’s also the question of age and health. Crosby will be around 29 when the season starts, and while that’s not old, it’s worth noting he played through knee issues late last year and just had surgery. something that reportedly clouded his availability for trade.

Teams don’t love risking big draft capital and a huge contract on a guy who may be coming off an injury and whose production could dip.

And here’s the deeper strategic part: the Bucs aren’t exactly a defensive end away from contention. Their problems last season weren’t all about getting to the quarterback — they were about back-end coverage, run defense, and consistency across the board. Dumping your best picks and significant cap space into one defender doesn’t fix all that. Trading for Maxx Crosby might look like the answer to all the Bucs problems on the surface, but it’s a risky play for Tampa Bay. Paying that cap hit and giving up high picks for one defense-only piece could hamstring future flexibility and make it harder to keep other impact players around, and that might ultimately hurt the Bucs more than it helps them.

This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Should the Bucs not trade for Raiders All-Pro Maxx Crosby?