Las Vegas Raiders: Maxx Crosby looked like an All-Pro in Week 1 victory
By Alex Perl
Maxx Crosby dominated for the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday night and could be headed to an All-Pro season in Year 3 in the NFL.
The trajectory of Maxx Robert Crosby has been a success story in numerous ways. The former fourth-round pick out of Eastern Michigan was unheard of by basically everyone the world over before the Raiders selected him with the 106th pick in 2019.
His ten sacks as a rookie were only a half a sack behind rookie sacks leader Josh Allen, an even more impressive feat when considering that Allen was a top-10 pick. Add in the fact that the Raiders selected defensive end Clelin Ferrell with the fourth overall pick in the draft, no one would have guessed that Crosby would be the star and not the former All-American in Ferrell.
Fast forward a year later and Crosby was not as dominant in his sophomore season, but considering he was the only pass-rushing threat the Raiders had at all, shows just how great the former unheralded prospect really is. He finished the year with seven sacks, more than double the next player behind him.
Raiders have a special talent in Crosby
Entering Year 3, the narrative around Crosby had centered away from football, as Crosby had opened up about entering rehab last year in March for alcoholism. Crosby celebrated being 18 months sober in August and was vocal about his struggle with alcohol and how it had affected his life before entering the rehabilitation center.
This offseason the change in his lifestyle had worked wonders for the up-and-coming young defensive end, ” I am in the best shape of my life” said Crosby, and with his non-stop work ethic and ability to vocalize himself on the defensive line, the Raiders and Jon Gruden made the call of naming Maxx Crosby a team captain.
The Raiders’ defensive line had gone through a complete makeover this offseason by adding a slew of new defensive tackles and partnering Crosby with the best pass-rushing teammate he has ever had in end Yannick Ngakoue via free agency. With a new defensive coordinator in Gus Bradley, the Raiders defense was finally being spoken of – in a flattering manner for once.
Entering Monday’s night’s highly anticipated matchup with the Baltimore Ravens, the world was put on notice of the talent of ‘Mad Maxx’, as he had his way with the Ravens offensive linemen and quarterback Lamar Jackson. Crosby terrorized Jackson all night long and was in the face of the speedy quarterback from start to finish.
Crosby finished with six total tackles, two sacks, and two tackles for loss.
The slimmer-looking Crosby was flying all over the field Monday, in a display reminiscent of former Raiders All-Pro talent Khalil Mack. Crosby is indeed the most talented defender the Raiders have acquired since the departure of Mack to the Chicago Bears in 2018.
The Raider defense as a whole looks like a much more cohesive unit compared to last season so far, and with the leadership and ability of Crosby leading the line, it seems that the sky is the limit not only for the Raiders defense but also for the (possible future) All-Pro in Crosby. Watch out Las Vegas there is a new star in your city who will sooner rather than later be an All-Pro performer and his name is Maxx Crosby.