Maxx Crosby ranked among best franchise players in the NFL

The Las Vegas Raiders haven't had much success over the last few seasons, but one of the lone bright spots amid all the losing has been edge rusher Maxx Crosby.

Crosby, who was selected in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft by Las Vegas, has been one of the better pass rushers in football since entering the league. The four-time Pro Bowler has tallied three double-digit sack seasons and led the league in tackles for loss in 2022 and 2023.

Heading into 2025, Crosby will look to bounce back after an ankle injury cut his 2024 campaign to just 12 games. However, Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox still ranks the Raiders' pass rusher as a true franchise player to build around.

"Crosby is still one of the best veteran edge-rushers in the NFL. He has taken over for the likes of Myles Garrett and T.J. Watt as an elder statesman among true franchise players. While Crosby alone hasn't made Las Vegas a contender, he did receive a contract extension this offseason that briefly made him the NFL's highest-paid defender," Knox wrote.

As Knox stated, Las Vegas rewarded Crosby with a three-year extension worth $106.5 million with $91.5 million guaranteed, making him one of the highest-paid defenders in the league.

Like most dominant edge rushers, Crosby isn't capable of carrying the Raiders. However, the Eastern Michigan standout has given the franchise a building block for the future and a ton of optimism.

Las Vegas should be much improved this season, as the additions of Pete Carroll as head coach and Geno Smith at quarterback should make a huge difference. Crosby and the Raiders have their best chance in years to compete for a playoff spot in 2025.

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