The Buffalo Bills’ search for a difference-making pass rusher may not be over. Though the team missed out on star defensive end Maxx Crosby during the recent trade flurry, a new wave of speculation suggests the Raiders could revisit trade discussions later this year—potentially giving Buffalo a second chance to land one of the NFL’s most disruptive defenders.
Crosby, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, was widely expected to be on the move after tensions surfaced between the veteran edge rusher and the Las Vegas Raiders organization. At one point, a trade to the Baltimore Ravens appeared imminent before the deal unexpectedly collapsed, leaving Crosby to return to a Raiders team in the early stages of a rebuild.
While the Raiders have since welcomed Crosby back and intend to build around him—at least for now—NFL insiders caution that the situation could change if Las Vegas struggles to gain traction during the upcoming season. For a Bills team that came close to acquiring Crosby once already, the possibility of another opportunity looms large.
Crosby’s Future in Las Vegas Remains Uncertain
The Raiders entered the offseason with significant roster questions and a clear need to reshape their identity under new leadership. Rather than move on from Crosby, the organization opted to retain him, viewing the 28-year-old defensive end as a cornerstone for their rebuilding efforts. According to Albert Breer of SI.com, the team has fully reintegrated Crosby and plans to feature him prominently alongside quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who is expected to join the franchise after the NFL draft.
However, Breer also noted that the Raiders’ commitment to Crosby could be tested if the season does not unfold as hoped. In that scenario, the team might be open to revisiting trade conversations—particularly if Crosby returns to form and demonstrates the elite performance that has defined his career.
“If he’s going to be traded, I think it’s going to have to come after Maxx Crosby gets back on the field and plays really well, so people will forget about everything that just happened,” Breer said on The MMQB NFL Podcast.
That assessment suggests that while Crosby is not currently on the trade block, his long-term future in Las Vegas is far from certain. For teams like the Bills, who are operating within a championship window, monitoring Crosby’s status throughout the season could prove to be a prudent strategy.
Buffalo’s Previous Pursuit of Crosby
The Bills were among the teams that pursued Crosby before the Raiders pulled back from trade discussions. Buffalo reportedly submitted an offer, but their first-round draft pick was viewed as less valuable than the selection the Ravens had proposed. With Baltimore’s deal falling through for unrelated reasons, the Bills were left without a clear path to acquiring the star edge rusher.
Should the Raiders reconsider trading Crosby during the regular season, Buffalo could re-enter the conversation—though the cost would likely remain steep. Teams in need of a premier pass rusher often part with multiple high-round draft picks, and Crosby’s contract status and proven production would command a significant return. Whether Buffalo is willing to meet that price may depend on how their own defensive line performs in the first half of the season.
ESPN’s Mina Kimes offered a different perspective, arguing that the Raiders have compelling reasons to hold onto Crosby regardless of their competitive timeline. With substantial cap space available and a young quarterback set to lead the offense, Las Vegas could benefit from maintaining a strong defensive presence to support Mendoza’s development.
“You have the opportunity here to get a motivated Maxx Crosby. He claims a healthy Maxx Crosby. And they have the money to afford him,” Kimes said. “The crazy thing about this is the Raiders have so much cap space. And they still have so much cap space; they can afford it. I think it helps Mendoza to have a functional pass rush on the other side of the ball.”
For Buffalo, this dynamic adds another layer of complexity. Even if the Raiders’ season takes a downturn, the front office may still view Crosby as too valuable to move—particularly if they believe a strong defense can accelerate Mendoza’s growth and shorten the rebuild timeline.
Bills Could Address Edge Rusher Needs in the Draft
While the possibility of a midseason trade for Crosby remains speculative, the Bills are unlikely to wait idly for an opportunity to materialize. With free agency thinning the team’s depth at edge rusher, Buffalo must consider more immediate solutions—including the upcoming NFL draft.
A.J. Epenesa departed in free agency, leaving Gregory Rousseau, newly signed veteran Bradley Chubb, and last year’s third-round selection Landon Jackson as the primary options on the edge. While Rousseau has developed into a reliable starter and Chubb brings experience, the group lacks the kind of explosive, game-wrecking presence that Crosby would provide.
CBS Sports analyst Josh Edwards believes Buffalo could address this need with their first-round pick, projecting the team to select Clemson pass rusher T.J. Parker. Edwards noted that Parker fits the profile the Bills have historically valued in edge defenders and could offer a long-term solution rather than the short-term fix the team has often pursued in free agency.
“A.J. Epenesa is a free agent as of this writing, so the only edge rushers on the roster probably exempt from major roster decisions are Gregory Rousseau, newly signed Bradley Chubb, and last year’s third-round pick, Landon Jackson,” Edwards wrote. “T.J. Parker has the profile they’ve been drawn to in the past. Perhaps he’ll allow them to get off the carousel of acquiring a new 30-year-old every offseason.”
Adding a player like Parker would not necessarily eliminate the possibility of pursuing Crosby later in the year, but it could reduce the urgency. If Buffalo invests significant draft capital in a young edge rusher, the front office may be less inclined to part with additional assets for a veteran—even one of Crosby’s caliber.
Looking Ahead
For now, the Bills remain in a holding pattern regarding Crosby. The Raiders have signaled their intention to move forward with the star pass rusher as a foundational piece, but the NFL landscape has a way of shifting quickly when teams underperform or priorities change.
Buffalo’s front office has demonstrated a willingness to be aggressive in pursuit of impact players, and their previous offer for Crosby confirms their interest. Whether that pursuit resumes in the months ahead will depend on a combination of factors: the Raiders’ early-season performance, Crosby’s health and production, and the Bills’ own assessment of their defensive line as they push toward another playoff run.
In the meantime, the draft offers a more immediate opportunity to bolster the edge rusher group. Whether Buffalo selects a player like Parker or explores other options, the team’s approach in the coming weeks will provide valuable insight into how they view their championship window—and how aggressively they are willing to act to strengthen a defense that has been just a few pieces shy of elite.
If the Raiders stumble and Crosby becomes available once more, the Bills may find themselves in position to revisit a deal they narrowly missed the first time around. For a franchise with Super Bowl aspirations, that possibility alone makes Crosby a name worth watching well beyond the draft.
