Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak isn't ready to pivot his priorities toward the future.
He sent that message when he shut down talk of a quarterback controversy between Kirk Cousins and Fernando Mendoza, and with a similar stance, general manager John Spytek should reject run-of-the-mill offers for Maxx Crosby.
Kubiak wants to win games, which is why Cousins will continue to start over Mendoza, an inexperienced rookie.
"Kirk is playing really well, and we're in the hunt," Kubiak said to the media last week. "It's really important that they keep playing really well behind them and continue to develop Fernando."
Trading Maxx Crosby would send mixed signals about winning now
Regardless of how you think the Raiders' 2026 season will end, they're in the early playoff picture with a 4-4 record.
In a league where one or two positive breaks can help a club clinch a postseason berth, Spytek should operate as if the team believes it can play in meaningful January games, which means keeping his best players.
Raiders' defense is still the Maxx Crosby show
The Raiders still haven't found a consistent pass-rushing wingman to complement Crosby on the edge. Kwity Paye made an impact in the season opener against the Miami Dolphins, logging 2.0 sacks, but he's been quiet since then.
Malcolm Koonce showed flashes of the player who broke out at the end of the 2023 campaign, but he hasn't recorded a tackle in two weeks. It's still the Crosby show in the pass rush. Don't be fooled by his box-score numbers.
Yes, he only has three sacks, but the five-time Pro Bowler is also second in the league with 29 pressures and fourth league-wide with 12 quarterback hits. Paye and Koonce have 20 pressures and five quarterback hits combined.
Mostly due to Crosby's pressures, the Raiders have the third-highest pressure rate in the NFL at 28.4 percent. Only the Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks boast a higher rate, and they have aggressive defensive masterminds at the helm.
Because of the massive drop-off between Crosby and the Raiders' secondary edge-rushers, Spytek would cripple an already leaky defense that ranks 25th in passing yards allowed and is even worse against the run.
Quarterbacks would have ample time to survey the field, throw and write letters to their loved ones while in the pocket if they didn't have to worry about Crosby barreling off the edge. And instead of running away from him, teams could just run effectively all over the field.
Maxx Crosby's value extends beyond the defense
So, you're probably thinking: If the Raiders' defense struggles with Crosby, why not trade him, since it can't get much worse?
But as a general manager, you have to weigh the impact of trading the defense's best player when your head coach just talked about winning football games. Crosby's absence would not only deflate the defense but also deflate a locker room that views him as a leader.
Sure, Crosby was excited about a change of scenery before the trade with the Baltimore Ravens fell apart this past offseason, but he seems committed to staying in Las Vegas and leading a young group.
"I'm excited 'bout everything," said via The Athletic's Sam Warren. "I love being a Raider. Said that a million times, and yeah, this is where I want to be. Super excited for, obviously, the present, but what's to come as well."
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Raiders don't seem eager to trade Crosby again.
"Unlike last year, when Crosby openly wondered about his future in Las Vegas, this year he doesn't want to go anywhere, and the Raiders currently have no plans to trade him, according to league sources."
Of course, an aggressive offer that meets Spytek's demand for two first-round picks could change the Raiders' tone, as could a blowout loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 9. But anything less than two firsts isn't worth it given the team's objective to win now and Crosby's value to the defense.
Raiders catching up to Maxx Crosby's timeline?
If Koonce were having a breakout year, or Paye played up to the expectations of his new three-year, $48 million contract while the Raiders sat at the bottom of the standings, trading Crosby would be a fair consideration.
Yet Las Vegas could still more than double its win total from the previous season and take another leap in 2027 as Crosby plays through his age-30 season. While his career timeline doesn't perfectly match the Raiders' current rebuild, his production hasn't shown signs of significant decline.
If Crosby has a couple more optimal years left, he could still be a game-wrecker on a playoff-contending Raiders team before Father Time comes knocking.
Moe Moton writes about the Raiders for Just Blog Baby. You can follow him on Twitter at @MoeMoton.
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