Las Vegas Raiders: Defensive End Maxx Crosby just getting started
By Brad Weiss
The Las Vegas Raiders have a special talent in defensive end Maxx Crosby, and he is just getting started for the Silver and Black.
With a fourth-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, the then-Oakland Raiders selected a little-known defensive end out of Eastern Michigan, Maxx Crosby. Known to be a bit of a wild man, Crosby came in and took on the persona of the old Raiders greats, and since then, he has become one of the more consistent players on this roster.
Now, as he heads into his third season with the team, Crosby is ready to take his game to the net level, and has all of the talent, and drive to be one of the elite defensive ends in this league. He has proven over the first two seasons that not only is he tough, as he plays hurt nearly every week, but he is also productive and is going to be a cornerstone for new defensive coordinator Gus Bradley on that side of the ball.
Luckily for Crosby, the Raiders made some serious investments in the defense this offseason, and that should impact him in a big way.
Raiders bolstered the defensive line around Crosby this offseason
As stated above, the Raiders certainly focused on the defense this offseason, utilizing free agency and five draft picks to do so. They brought in some talent along the interior of the defensive line, brought back their starting linebackers, and got better in the secondary, especially at safety.
One of the key additions was that of Yannick Ngakoue, a player who has made a living at the NFL level getting after the quarterback. In fact, Ngakoue was bullish about what he and Crosby could accomplish in 2021, calling them the best pass-rushing duo in the NFL.
While that remains to be seen, if Ngakoue is looking into the future, it completely changes the narrative surrounding this defense heading into the 2021 NFL season.
The bottom line is, Crosby has been an absolute steal of a draft pick since coming into the league and is one of the few hits on the docket for general manager Mike Mayock come draft time. He has done a tremendous job with very little around him up until this point, but with talent now in place, we are just seeing the start of what could be a special career for No. 98 in the Silver and Black.