The New England Patriots entered the 2026 offseason with several defined needs. They have addressed them to an extent, but not enough. The draft and trades are their top remaining options. There are still some major roster holes that need to be addressed.
Pro Football Focus has listed each NFL team's "most valuable trade asset", and one, the Raiders' Maxx Crosby, should be of interest to the Patriots.
The edge is a position of great need for the Patriots, as they swapped one good pass rusher for another in free agency. They let K'Lavon Chaisson leave and signed Dre'Mont Jones to replace him. While they're somewhat different players, it was basically a one-for-one swap. Jones isn't the needle-mover the defensive line needs.
Many NFL mock drafts will have the Patriots addressing the position early, and they should. They have only two qualified NFL edges on the roster in the mentioned Jones and Harold Landry III, who had an injury-riddled 2025.
Absent a trade, like one for Crosby, they'll have to go early and often in the draft for at least two and maybe three edges.
The trade for Maxx Crosby falling though may be a gift to the Patriots
The Raiders tried to trade their star sack producer, Crosby, to the Ravens earlier in free agency. Baltimore ultimately turned down the deal, citing medical reasons. Crosby had been the subject of much speculation in Patriot Nation as a great fit for the team, which needs to prevent and produce more sacks as its two most important 2026 offseason objectives.
Crosby is a dominant player who can get to opposing quarterbacks with ease. With his medical situation having been a deal-breaker with Baltimore, the Patriots should pounce on an opportunity to perhaps now swing a deal with Las Vegas, especially if the cost in draft picks has diminished as a result.
They should certainly explore the deal again if they had previously. Of all the potentially available players for trade, Crosby probably fits the Patriots' needs as well or better than any other player who may be available.
Obviously, the team and its medical staff will have to do due diligence on Crosby's physical condition. If he passes the Patriots' test and the freight isn't outlandish, they can add a premier not only pass-rusher, but sack-producer in his prime to a team that desperately needs one.
Stats like quarterback hits and pressures are fine to keep some analysts busy, but the real beef is in sack production, and it's the polar opposite, sack-prevention. The Patriots were outsacked in the Super Bowl loss, 6-1.
That, along with two turnovers, sealed the deal. Crosby delivers sacks, and that's where the emphasis should always be. The Patriots should re-explore a deal for Crosby, and if he passes the physical, try to bring him on board. If he's healthy, he'll be a true difference-maker.