The New England Patriots ended their 2025 season with a heartbreaking loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX. Although the defense held their own, the offense fell apart, highlighting the improvements needed during the offseason to give them the best chance of making another deep postseason run.
Yet it's also clear that upgrades are needed on defense, despite their impressive performance, and one player worth considering a blockbuster trade for continues to be Raiders' pass rusher Maxx Crosby.
The two current edge players are Harold Landry III, who had a solid season with 8.5 sacks. The other is unrestricted free agent K'Lavon Chaisson, who had 7.5 sacks in the regular season and has followed that up with three more in the playoffs.
He's a big-game player for certain, and he'll make a bagful of cash this offseason.
Maxx Crosby would be a great edge addition to the Patriots 2026 roster
The solid Landry will return, and the Patriots can choose to re-sign playoff star Chaisson, depending on the cost. Yet, even if he's back, the addition of another top edge, preferably one who can notch double-digit sacks, is still a top priority for Vrabel. Pressures and quarterback hits are fine, but sacks are drive-enders and game-changers, and players who deliver them are worth whatever it costs.
In assessing possible trade candidates for the Patriots when trades are possible on March 11, Bleacher Report suggests a solid option on the edge for the Patriots. It's veteran pass rusher, Maxx Crosby of the Las Vegas Raiders.
"Crosby is the biggest star who could potentially be on the move this offseason. The Patriots have to know that going all-in on Maye's rookie contract window is the best way to maximize their shot at winning championships. Crosby's effort and leadership are tailor-made to be a Mike Vrabel player."
Crosby will enter his age-29 season and has a solid track record of recording double-digit sacks in his seven-year career. He's had 10 or more sacks in four of those seasons, his best coming in 2023 when he notched 14.5 sacks.
The Patriots defense will be unstoppable if they manage to pull off this trade
Adding Crosby to Landry, who's had injury issues in 2025, and even to both him and Chaisson if he's re-signed, still makes sense. Edge players get dinged up just like any other positional players. Depth is essential, and quality pass-rushing depth is essential for any NFL team.
When Landry has been out, the sack production has slipped. Especially with his injury history, even if Chaisson is signed, Crosby can still be a tremendous asset to the team and the pass rush, both as depth at the edge or as a down defensive end in different looks.
The rangy, 6'5", 255-pound Crosby has played mostly as a defensive end. Yet, his size profile also projects him to be a stand-up edge to fit Vrabel's defense like a glove. At his height, he also has a penchant for passes defended, having racked up five in 2024 and a further six in 2025.
He also added two forced fumbles and an interception to go along with his 10 sacks.
Maxx Crosby is a playmaker. It's not clear what the freight might be yet, even if it's a first-round pick and more, it's not out of the question. With the Patriots picking 31 or 32, that makes perfect sense even if the team has to throw in a mid-round pick in 2027. Crosby would be a great addition to Mike Vrabel's defense.