Maxx Crosby #98 of the Las Vegas Raiders (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images)
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby has emerged as one of the top defensive ends in the NFL.
The former fourth-round draft pick is coming off of the best season of his career after posting a career-high 90 tackles and 14.5 sacks during the 2023 season. That banner season led to Crosby notching his third consecutive Pro Bowl season and second All-Pro selection over the past three years. Crosby's 30 sacks over the past three seasons are the third-highest in the NFL, only behind Myles Garrett and Nick Bosa.
Crosby recently missed the first game of his six-season career due to an ankle injury in the Raiders' Week 4 win over the Cleveland Browns, but he was coming off of two consecutive games with a sack – including two in the Week 2 win over the Baltimore Ravens.
While Crosby is certainly an elite player, it doesn't mean that he's done getting better.
"My offseason started right away [after last season]," says Crosby in a one-on-one interview with RG on behalf of his partnership with Saxx. "The goal was to refine and elevate. That was the motto of the offseason – and we did that. Came out of the gates, had a couple of really good games and then boom, I get hurt. It's a bump in the road, a minor speed bump."
Crosby has an optimistic view of his latest injury, mentioning how he also dealt with a knee injury last season. However, he didn't miss any games and played through the injury while posting the best season of his career.
"But it happens for a reason," says Crosby of his latest injury. "Every single year I've dealt with something. Last year I dealt with my knee, having to drain it every single week, having the infection – it was hell. And going through this now, God gives his strongest soldiers the toughest tasks and that's really what I'm going through right now. It's all going to be a part of the story.
"I know we're going to win – and that's the goal. I have to keep doing what I do every single day. Focus on the details, dominate the details and it's going to lead to exactly where I want to go and plan on going."
The Raiders are currently 2-2 and preparing for a big AFC West divisional matchup with the Denver Broncos, who are also 2-2. While Crosby isn't promising that he's playing in this week's game, he plans on playing. Defeating the Broncos and advancing to a record of 3-2 could go a long way towards putting the Raiders in potential playoff contention as the season progresses. Making it to the playoffs is ultimately Crosby's team goal for this season.
With Crosby now a full-fledged veteran, he mentions that "consistency" is the biggest thing he's learned since entering the league as a fourth-round pick out of Eastern Michigan back in 2019.
"Consistency is everything," says Crosby. "It's consistency at work. A lot of people can do it for a couple weeks, a couple months, but the ones that do it every day – no matter what part of the year it is – when you know most guys are on vacation, having drinks at the beach, doing their thing. It's the guys that are putting in the work 24/7 and that's who I am. That's what I feel separates myself.
As the Raiders look to compete for a playoff spot and seek to clinch a playoff spot for the second time in Crosby's career, they'll have to lean on some of their younger players in order to make that happen. Star wide receiver Davante Adams appears to be on the way out as he's indicated his interest in a potential trade.
One of those younger players that stands out to Crosby is none other than first-round pick at tight end, Brock Bowers. Bowers is the most accomplished tight end in college football history, winning the John Mackey Award – for the best tight end – twice and being named an All-American on three occasions. That's not even mentioning the two national championships he won with the Georgia Bulldogs.
The 21-year-old is off to a solid start to his rookie season with 24 catches for 216 yards.
"There's a lot of guys that have stood out," says Crosby. "A lot of guys are stepping up, improving. But I'm always talking about the defense. I'll throw an offensive guy some love because this dude, Brock Bowers, he's a problem. And he's only getting better. I gotta show love to him. That kid's going to be really good for a long time. For his size, the way he can run and the way he can catch the ball and his ability to break tackles, it's incredible."
DJ Siddiqi
