The ongoing saga with Maxx Crosby and the Ravens backing out of their trade for him continues to be a hot topic in free agency, with the Raiders sending mixed signals about what they plan to do with the pass rusher.
Clearly, they were fine with doing the 2026 season without him when they decided to trade him to Baltimore, but now they're claiming to be happy he's back and plan to have him on the team for next year and more. But NFL insiders aren't so sure that's the truth and believe another trade could happen for the right price.
That puts the Patriots back into the mix, as they were allegedly before, especially since the reported reason for the Ravens backing out of the trade could drastically lower the Raiders return.
But there have been rumors that Tom Brady, who has a 5% stake in the Raiders, didn't want to send Crosby to New England, therefore stripping them of a chance to get a top-producing pass rusher their defense has needed.
So, of course, Eliot Wolf was asked about this while speaking to the media this past week, and his response was very telling.
Eliot Wolf isn't buying into the rumors of Tom Brady preventing a Maxx Crosby trade to New England
On the day the Patriots invited reporters to Gillette Stadium to introduce the first wave of free agents they signed, Wolf was asked about rumors of Brady's involvement in where Crosby lands, and the unofficial general manager immediately shut down the idea that there was any truth to the matter.
That's certainly a positive development if he is correct.
Eliot Wolf is asked about the report that Tom Brady wouldn’t have been fond of trading Maxx Crosby to the Patriots.
— Phil Perry (@PhilAPerry) March 12, 2026
“I’d be surprised if that was true.”
Wolf says he has a good relationship with LV GM John Spytek, and Brady’s distaste for doing deals with NE has never come up.
That could open the door for a Crosby trade still, or, at the very least, allow the Patriots and Raiders to engage in trade talks down the line, as Brady isn't going anywhere any time soon.
Hopefully, the former quarterback isn't being that petty to block his longtime team from acquiring a player of Croby's caliber. Still, he has been acting strangely since stepping into his full-time commentator gig, and it wouldn't be at all shocking if there is some truth to the latest rumor.
Regardless, this keeps some level of possibility open for the Patriots to get a Crosby trade done, even if it doesn't look realistic this offseason.