The Washington Commanders must be aggressive this offseason to put the right defensive pieces in place to help Daronte Jones maximize his new opportunity. There is money to spend in free agency, but there could be another daring trade to consider if general manager Adam Peters believes it can provide the catalyst for immediate improvements.
There are growing murmurs around media row at the Super Bowl about a five-time Pro Bowler who could be looking for a fresh challenge elsewhere.
Things don't seem great between the Las Vegas Raiders and edge rusher Maxx Crosby. Shutting him down at the tail-end of the campaign when he clearly wanted to play didn't sit well, which immediately raised speculation about his future.
Commanders fans are dreaming big after Maxx Crosby trade update
With Klint Kubiak taking charge as head coach, and the team likely to pick quarterback Fernando Mendoza at No. 1 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, the rebuild has begun. Crosby has always been happy in Las Vegas, but this could be the tipping point between the prolific veteran and the franchise.
Jay Glazer of FOX Sports was among those lending his weight to the claims that Crosby will be traded. He thought it would happen, and it would probably occur before the draft. The longtime insider also thought it might require a king's ransom to aid Las Vegas' plans for sustained growth under the new regime.
Maxx Crosby's time with the Raiders is most likely DONE, per @JayGlazer 👀
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) February 4, 2026
What kind of haul would the five-time Pro Bowler get in the trade market? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/FK1EkdKXRd
There will be a queue of suitors seeking Crosby's services. The Commanders could potentially be one of them, but Peters may think twice about sacrificing more assets, even though his contract is extremely tradable.
In fairness to Peters, two of his three incoming trades were a big success.
Laremy Tunsil is a cornerstone piece. Deebo Samuel Sr. may not come back, but he became a solid contributor for nothing more than a fifth-round pick. The acquisition of cornerback Marshon Lattimore was a disaster, so moving away from this method of enhancing the roster is probably desirable.
At the same time, Crosby is a legitimate game-wrecker. The Commanders haven't had one of those coming off the edge for years. Peters has to pay a premium for Tunsil, and it was a roaring success. The cost would be much more in this instance. Even so, there are many other needs to fill.
If the Commanders had built on their phenomenal early momentum under head coach Dan Quinn, this would be much more realistic. The project has taken a step back, so this doesn't seem all that realistic.
Still, that won't stop Commanders fans from dreaming.