While there's no indication that the Las Vegas Raiders are actively shopping defensive end Maxx Crosby, there was previously a deal in place with the Baltimore Ravens—until the Ravens backed out unexpectedly. That left Crosby in Las Vegas despite his desire to leave.
Even so, many around the NFL believe a Crosby trade remains possible—if not before the season, then sometime during the 2026 campaign.
FanSided's Austen Bundy recently ranked the top five landing spots for Crosby, naming the New York Giants, Washington Commanders, Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears, and the San Francisco 49ers. Bundy placed the 49ers at the top of the list.
He even proposed a blockbuster scenario in which the 49ers package troublesome wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and draft compensation in exchange for Crosby.
"If the 49ers manage to tempt the Raiders into swapping Crosby in a deal that involves wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, it could be a hilarious ending to an entertaining (and at times cringe-worthy) saga," Bundy wrote. "San Francisco would probably still have to part with a first-rounder, but there's a possibility general manager John Lynch could persuade Las Vegas into taking a pair of conditional second-rounders in future years."
Historically, the Raiders have been reluctant to make deals with the 49ers, their former Bay Area rival. However, sending Crosby to an NFC team rather than another AFC contender could make a trade more appealing. Additionally, the 49ers have reportedly expressed interest in the veteran pass rusher.
Bundy believes a package built around conditional draft picks could benefit both teams.
"Those would upgrade should the 49ers go a certain distance in the playoffs and/or Crosby plays a majority of snaps," Bundy wrote. "Keeping Crosby on the west coast may also be a likelier move than him going east."
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers' Brock Purdy: I still have a lot to learn from Kyle Shanahan
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy views head coach Kyle Shanahan as one of the best offensive minds in football, even calling him a "Hall of Fame coach" during a recent conversation with Tim Kawakami on The TK Show podcast. Purdy's respect for Shanahan is clear, and... -
49ers' Brock Purdy climbs in Sando's 2026 QB Tiers but still faces criticism
The Athletic's Mike Sando has released his Quarterback Tiers rankings for 2026, and San Francisco 49ers fans may be interested to learn where Brock Purdy landed. No matter how much success Purdy enjoys, there always seems to be debate about where the 49ers quarterback belongs... -
49ers updates: Nick Bosa still not practicing as another joins the injury list
The San Francisco 49ers kicked off their ninth full practice of training camp on Saturday, and defensive end Nick Bosa remains sidelined. According to Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group, Bosa is not participating. This marks his third missed full practice after the 49ers... -
49ers training camp: Brock Purdy bounces back, still no Nick Bosa at practice
The San Francisco 49ers held their 10th full training camp practice on Monday as they continued preparations for the 2026 NFL season. The team will host the Tennessee Titans in Thursday night's preseason opener. The 49ers announced two roster moves ahead of practice. The team...