There was a time this offseason when the Patriots looked poised and ready to pounce on one of the biggest trades in franchise history, and fans couldn't have been more excited. Because players like Maxx Crosby don't become available very often, it made sense that a team like New England would inquire about a deal to put their defense on a new level.
It was also unsurprising that they stopped short of having serious conversations about an agreement; however, given what the Ravens gave up to get Crosby in the door.
Although they eventually chickened out of the trade, it was still a lot of draft capital to give up that the Patriots aren't in a position to hand over.
But that doesn't mean they shouldn't reopen the discussion, at least according to Matt Okada of NFL.com, as he suggests the Patriots get on the phone with the Raiders again.
Patriots are urged to explore a trade for Maxx Crosby again
Despite concerns about his injury, which allegedly led the Ravens to decide not to follow through on the trade, Okada believes adding Crosby to their roster would immediately make the Patriots' defense an absolutely dominant force in 2026 and beyond.
It could be a good way to use the draft capital they were willing to give up for AJ Brown if a trade is not able to be agreed upon with the Eagles.
"If Brown talks grow stale, New England could shift that trade capital to acquire Maxx Crosby from the Raiders. Mike Vrabel's defense would be an absolute terror with the five-time Pro Bowler on the edge."
The idea of adding a talent like Crosby to the Patriots' current defense sounds almost too good to be true, and to be fair, it might be.
While fans would eventually get over the steep price it would take to get the Raiders to agree to a trade, it still doesn't feel like the best move for a team that wants to build a roster to compete for years to come.
Crosby will be 29 years old when the 2026 season starts and although there are some questions about the Ravens' decision to back out of the trade, they did cite his knee injury being far worse than they knew about or anticipated, and that will need to be something the Patriots take into consideration, given the potential long-term impact that could have on his performance.
If they feel comfortable with it, then maybe it's a good deal. If there are any doubts, then there's no reason to take Okada's advice and pursue Crosby again.