NFL.com: Maxx Crosby Would Breathe Life Into Bucs Defense
February 14th, 2026
Raiders DE Maxx Crosby.
As we inch towards the combine, the topic du jour of Bucs fans seems to be the availability of Raiders superstar edge rusher Maxx Crosby.
Crosby, 28, with a banged-up knee, seems to have a beef with former Bucs quarterback Tom Brady, who is now the part-owner of the Raiders. As a result, Crosby wants nothing to do with Brady and it’s unlikely Brady divests himself of an NFL team.
So that might mean Crosby is the odd man out.
Rumors are flying so rapidly about Crosby leaving Las Vegas that NFL.com decided to have several reporters type up words on where they think Crosby will land and why.
Since the Bucs are looked down upon these days by the national media — it was earned this past season — only one NFL.com reporter believes Crosby could come to Tampa Bay. Eric Edholm seems to think Crosby is just the kind of impact player who can save Todd Bowles’ job.
PICK: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
I’ll go off the grid a bit and pick the Buccaneers, whose pass rush evaporated down the stretch last season, recording just 12 sacks in the final nine games. Tampa Bay needs another difference-maker up front to pair with Vita Vea and Yaya Diaby. Todd Bowles must resuscitate his defense, especially if Lavonte David decides to retire. Bucs GM Jason Licht could call his former majordomo, Raiders GM John Spytek, and offer a pretty good package, starting with the 15th overall pick in the draft.
Edholm makes an interesting point. Anyone remember when the Bucs signed Ndamukong Suh? While Suh was past his prime, he certainly elevated the Bucs defense, especially in the Super Bowl-winning season of 2020.
Could Crosby, with his personality and drive and relentless hustle, be just what the Bucs need? Joe’s very confident you won’t hear Bowles break out into a postgame f-bomb tirade about Crosby not hustling.
February 14th, 2026 at 12:11 am
Surely Crosby, 28, would rather go to a contender – one of the many better teams – rather than putting himself in a position to have to carry a lousy defense that is so poorly coached!
February 14th, 2026 at 12:24 am
As much as I would like to see Maxx in Pewter & Red, I just don’t see how we make the finances work. We have too many players making north of 20 million next year; Mayfield, Wirfs, Goedeke, Winfield, Godwin, Vea and if M1K3 Evans comes back that is another. Yaya & Cody will have extensions coming soon and we already appear to have overpaid for Zyon. I just don’t see it unless we plan to lose somebody or the aforementioned players decide to take a 5 million dollar pay cut each.
February 14th, 2026 at 12:27 am
Again Joe, I don’t think anyone would question the idea that Crosby would be a big boost to our defense.
The real question is Todd Bowles.
Is a guy who’s openly stated he doesn’t think a pass rush is important, willing to change his philosophy and let his edge rushers rush?
Past history has shown he can be pretty stubborn. It’s a real roll of the dice.
February 14th, 2026 at 12:44 am
We need another…..Suh …..
February 14th, 2026 at 12:48 am
How is he in coverage?
February 14th, 2026 at 1:03 am
Looking at some PFF stats for fun…
Did you know that Dean had a 99.9 grade for pass rush. WOW, I’ve never seen a 99.9 before for anything.
Meanwhile, the teams 3rd best coverage guy was Hassan Riddick – right behind Dean and Winfield, and ahead of Parrish. Sure he was a non-factor as a pass rusher, but with coverage skills like that, Bowles will bring him back.
According to PFF, Dennis was actually really effective as a pass rusher, with a
73.6 grade. How they got that grade, I have no idea, but they also say he was terrible in coverage. Suggestion… have him blitz and play less coverage – ie, use players in a way that takes the most advantage of their skills. What a shocking suggestion.
Meanwhile, Crosby had a 77.1 pass rush grade on the year. Yaya had a
76.9 grade pass rush grade.
Also, they have Vita with a really bad 39.1 tackle grade. I don’t recall Vita looking awful tackling – not his best year, but he didn’t stand out as awful. Of course there’s no telling where they come up with these numbers, so who knows what they’re going by.
February 14th, 2026 at 1:04 am
Not with todd in place….it will be a one year rental and waste of a draft pick unless maybe a 4th…which wont happen.
1st Styles/Ioane
2nd Trigg
3rd Lawson
February 14th, 2026 at 1:41 am
That’s probably why it won’t happen. Would make too much sense for the Bucs to bring him in & help the D. I would’ve drafted him right from the beginning. I liked him when he was at Eastern Michigan.
February 14th, 2026 at 3:57 am
rod –
they use those lottery things…they put 100 balls in the spinner from 1 to 100…and whatever number comes out that seems “fair enough” on up to 3 tries, they roll with it…
and then they add the decimal point, and the number 1 thru 9, after the main number, off the top of their head – with an “aww fugg it” who cares, shrug your shoulders, type attitude…
it’s a pretty simple and rudimentary technique actually 🙂
and some people call it science…or even rocket science…!
happy to clear that up for ya rod !
February 14th, 2026 at 4:05 am
every single player to a certain extent is a system player…
and crosby, as good of a player as he is…is also a system player…
in a bad system, with a bad azz attitude, and a star, and sack machine, within a heavily losing culture…
if he comes here……quite honestly, you don’t know exactly how that translates to a new team and a new locker room…
all the little things and people are different…
would he still be a great player….possibly…but he will also be a different player in a different system…
everything changes – can he thrive in the new system as a buccaneer…that is the question…
he did more than just fine, within a bottom of the barrel system, the last handful of years with the horrendous raiders
February 14th, 2026 at 5:59 am
We dont need help with our pass rush….I BELIEVE IN TODD BOWLES
February 14th, 2026 at 7:01 am
I could see like a 1 this year and maybe a 3 next year.
His knee injury is a meniscus, not sure how serious that is, considering he wanted to keep playing
February 14th, 2026 at 7:12 am
“Maxx Crosby Would Breathe Life Into Bucs Defense”
No thanks. We already have enough zombies.
February 14th, 2026 at 7:32 am
What also would breathe life into the Bucs defense sing either
1.) Jim Schwartz (trade for his rights)
2.) Bring in Jack Del Rio
Make either one the DC and since the Glazers ‘Fear the Beard’ aka Rooney Rule keep Bowles the HC
February 14th, 2026 at 7:33 am
Happy Valentines, Glazerhouses. We love you!
February 14th, 2026 at 7:43 am
I’m sure Max would love to be coached up by Todd Bowles Jr.. When’s one of Licht’s kids going to be asst GM?
February 14th, 2026 at 8:24 am
Everyone loves Seattle defense right? Leonard Williams, Uchena Nwosu and Byron Murphy tied for the team LEAD in sacks for the Seattle Seahawks, WITH ONLY 7 SACKS EACH. NOBODY had more sacks on that team. So, why not take a safer approach than signing Hendrickson, or giving away the farm and trading 2 first round picks for Crosby AND paying him $36MM?? (BTW, there are 5 EDGEs that make more than Crosby, with Parsons topping the list at $46.5MM, so Joe, Crosby’s contract is a bargain).
How about signing cheaper players -NOT ONE, but two or 3 – with good potential that are YOUNG, for LESS than what Crosby makes and maybe ONE of them turns into Shaq? Like 27yo arnold ebikitie – 6 sacks in ’24 and ’23 for $9MM, and 25yo Joseph Ossai with 5 sacks in “24 and ’25 for $9M and 27yo aj epenesa who had 6 sacks in ’22 ,’23 and ’24 for $6M
Or just sign one of these guys and take a swing at 27yo Odafe Oweh who had 7.5 sacks in ’25 for $18. This strategy bets the heck out of paying ONE guy $36M and losing TWO 1st round picks. Then use the #15 pick on a young stud for the defense (or a TE for Joe, LMAO)
My strategy pays out about $27M for two or three players who can get after the QB and hopefully become the next 19 sack Shaq.
February 14th, 2026 at 8:27 am
Note to Todd Bowles: Instead of trying to convert Maxx Crosby into a safety or cornerback – just draft one with the 15th pick and save cap space.
February 14th, 2026 at 8:29 am
Read a few weeks ago Crosby wants to go to Detroit. He’s a MI Boy who played his college ball at Eastern Michigan University. Makes sense if it’s true.
February 14th, 2026 at 8:52 am
This isnt happening. Plain and simple.
Won’t surprise me one bit if they just continue to throw money at the offense.
Bowles isnt going to change how he does things. The defense next year will look exactly like it has since he took over as HC. Let teams march up and down the field between the 20’s and try to force a field goal attempt. Stop the run and hope for an incompletion on 3rd down. Ether try to play tight coverage with no pass rush, or rush everybody and play off zone. Its a defense with no teeth and few answers.
February 14th, 2026 at 9:06 am
Please no.
If he was 26 and healthy I’d be for it like I was with parsons. But not at this age and with those knees.
February 14th, 2026 at 9:15 am
I like Harry’s idea–shotgun approach. Sign 2 or 3, one of them likely pans out
February 14th, 2026 at 9:19 am
Please. Enough of this. It’s Reddick all over again. Another midnight “pass rush, pass rush, EDGE RUSHER, EDGE RUSHER Post. Just a different name. We’ve got 6 more MONTHS of this BS. So, I’m OUT.
February 14th, 2026 at 9:23 am
Max Crosby is a very good football player, but he’s just one guy and he’s not a coach. To play in Bowlzo”s defense he has to play great in pass coverage 10 or 20 yards down field. How’s his pass coverage?
February 14th, 2026 at 9:51 am
I never heard of him til now.
February 14th, 2026 at 10:04 am
Trading Parsons didn’t help either team.
February 14th, 2026 at 10:33 am
We all know bucs are not getting him. This is not the topic du jour of bucs fans, its the clickbait traffic du jour of the internet.
February 14th, 2026 at 10:36 am
Senor Harry….I have been preaching that approach for weeks since the Crosby speculation started.
I have also been looking at specific target Edge/OLB (& ILB), aligning them to former player comps in Bowles system – so people can wrap their heads around the thought process.
WOLB:
Javeon Clowney – JPP clone – Good against the run & functional pass rusher at 33. (YaYa’s the starter but JC gets paired with Nelson in situational BU roles)
SOLB:
K’Lavon Chaissin -26- Just had a nice breakout season in NE & will not break the bank. Slots in well as the #1 SOLB in front of Braswell & Walker
Or:
Azeez Ojulari – 25 – a Shaq Barrett-lite signing when coming from Den – cheap, hungry & looking to reset his market after an injury plagued year in PHI. (Good for 6-8 sacks a year when healthy – proved that as a NYG).
Bucs could get 2 of above for less than 1/2 of 1yr of what Crosby or Hendrickson will command in 2026…Meaning that the FO would still have the coin needed to go get 2 hungry young ILB’s & a Hall replacement 3-4 DE without mortgaging the future with a ton of void year dead money moves to create cap room.
February 14th, 2026 at 10:43 am
The hc is supposed to breath life! Crosby wants out because he wants to win
.The raiders and bucs are not to far apart ,hes not coming here The raiders want money and the pics Crosby will deliver on a trade …(hint hint) He didn’t take the raiders to the promise land ,what makes you think he can deliver here in tampa…The Bucs need guards and tackles it won’t matter who’s coming off the edge when you can get to the qb with 4 , Seattle is the blueprint…
February 14th, 2026 at 10:47 am
Aside from the age and knees, others have pointed out (rightfully so) that even if we acquire him this HC wouldn’t deploy him correctly. Which I agree with.
Joe has written about Bowles’s (and maybe even Licht) lack of concern for consistent edge rush.
If it’s not coming from the top it’s certainly not worth the price.
February 14th, 2026 at 10:48 am
LMAO! Evaporated down the stetch? What about the entire season?
February 14th, 2026 at 10:57 am
I like the Azeez Ojulari idea. Should be a relatively cheap contract. This guy has speed and a good bend. Not in favor of a big money deal for Crosby. Would rather concentrate on drafting Sonny Styles. Pretty sure will have to move up to 10 but this would be a home run if Licht can pull it off.
February 14th, 2026 at 12:05 pm
This much i can guarantee you…If he goes to another team this year he will ball out looking like the stud he is, and everybody on this site will bitch and moan on why we didn’t give the raiders anything they wanted for him!! And NO one at #15 in this draft is gonna be better than him!
February 14th, 2026 at 12:15 pm
Cat are and senior harry well spoken both of you. Love the idea, I agree mad max is too expensive. Too much money allocated to one player. We need some starters yes but depth is just as important
February 14th, 2026 at 12:16 pm
Cat card and they not we, keep forgetting I don’t play for the Bucs lol
February 14th, 2026 at 1:31 pm
Cool! Crosby gets 15 sacks for the bucs! Same OL. Baker winds up on his ass half the season all your pics, money ,future are gone for those 15 sacks! Clowney and the draft! Live to fight another day because 1 dude is not enough
February 14th, 2026 at 1:54 pm
It’s hard to breathe life into a corpse. But Maxx coming to the Bucs to be coached by TwoTodd would be fun, and we know The Todds will maximize Crosby’s versatility and use him as the cornerstone of confusion.
February 14th, 2026 at 1:55 pm
No to this guy. I would rather somehow manage to get Styles.
February 14th, 2026 at 1:56 pm
Rod Munch Says:
“How is he in coverage?”
How much were Suh, JPP and Shaq used in coverage?
February 14th, 2026 at 1:58 pm
Gipper Says:
“Would rather concentrate on drafting Sonny Styles. Pretty sure will have to move up to 10 but this would be a home run if Licht can pull it off.”
Maybe give our 1st and 2nd to move up? What is it? 5 spots or so?
February 14th, 2026 at 2:15 pm
This site is infatuated with Crosby.
He’s not coming to Tampa. Let it go.
Too much draft capital and too much money.
February 14th, 2026 at 4:02 pm
I don’t see us getting Crosby and If he was the only piece we needed then I would say sell the farm to get him but he isn’t.
February 14th, 2026 at 4:35 pm
The Bucs wouldn’t and shouldn’t cough up the picks it would take to land an ultra expensive 30 year old that is an injury risk As bad as the Bucs have been drafting pass rushers, the draft is still a better gamble than trading for Crosby and bankrupting the team.
February 14th, 2026 at 5:34 pm
Buccaneer Bonzai Says:
February 14th, 2026 at 1:56 pm
Rod Munch Says:
“How is he in coverage?”
How much were Suh, JPP and Shaq used in coverage?
———
This isn’t the same scheme anymore.
The 2020 Bucs were an aggressive man-to-man defense.
Bowles threw that out to play the awful passive soft zone that has plagued the team since Arians retired. It’s almost like without Arians there telling him to be aggressive, Turtle Bowles just goes back into his shell.
February 14th, 2026 at 5:35 pm
The ridiculous Godwin deal killed the potential to get Maxx. Last year was the year to make this move. Let’s move on to bargain bin edge rushers, please.
February 14th, 2026 at 5:48 pm
I would package Mike Evans, a 1st rounder, and whatever to go after Crosby. Folks, geting a very good DE will not be cheap.Face the Music on that. Them daze are gone.