As head coach Mike Vrabel not so subtly pointed out last month, the New England Patriots aren't a very deep team. They have plenty of talent on both sides of the ball, but they might be an injury or two away from a crisis at multiple position groups.
That's especially true of the pass-rushing department. Harold Landry III will miss at least the first four games; rookie Gabe Jacas is unlikely to contribute much on defense early on; and Dre'Mont Jones is the only bona fide edge defender on that unit. As it stands, New England could be leaning heavily on former undrafted free agent Elijah Ponder.
Barring a surprise, edge should be a lingering concern in Foxboro until the Nov. 10 trade deadline. That's why they should be looking to battle with teams like the Dallas Cowboys to acquire Maxx Crosby this season, if the Raiders decide to once again shop their star pass rusher.
Bleacher Report, however, is projecting a price tag that would be way too steep for the Patriots.
B/R's Kris Knox recently predicted Crosby to land with the Cowboys in exchange for two first-round picks, in 2027 and 2028, as well as 28-year-old edge Rashan Gary.
"The Raiders seem content to keep Crosby after their offseason trade with the Baltimore Ravens fell through. However, they could revisit the idea of flipping the 29-year-old if they're struggling to compete in late October," wrote Knox. "After taking Fernando Mendoza No. 1 overall, Las Vegas won't be in the market for a quarterback in next year's draft.
However, it will be looking for long-term pieces to put around Mendoza. Trading Crosby, who could be past his prime by the time the Raiders are ready to contend, could get Las Vegas a very strong return."
Maxx Crosby is exactly what the Patriots need, but the price may be impossible to justify
This prediction has the Raiders getting even more than they would've gotten from the Baltimore Ravens after their agreed-upon trade fell through back in March. The Ravens had committed two first-round picks with no players.
That might be the only way the Raiders reconsider trading Crosby, even if they struggle again this season. Unless Crosby explicitly asks for a trade, they're unlikely to give him up for less than two first-round selections.
The Patriots would be hard-pressed to beat that offer, considering they already traded their first-round pick in 2028 to the Philadelphia Eagles for A.J. Brown. They would probably have to give up a promising young player in return for Crosby to split the difference.
New England has already shown that it can hold its own against the cream of the crop, but every season is a different story. Everyone knows the Patriots' flaws, and their inability to pressure the quarterback might come back to haunt them when it matters the most.
Parting with multiple first-round draft picks in one season is always a gut punch, even more so with a promising upcoming class like 2027. That said, trading for Crosby might be the difference between getting a pick in the early 20s and having No. 32 overall.
There's no need to make rash moves right now, as the Patriots' current unit deserves the benefit of the doubt.
But if the Raiders struggle and rumors start swirling around their defensive superstar, the Patriots should at least put their best offer on the table and see what happens.
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