Maxx Crosby heads into 2026 back with the Las Vegas Raiders after a proposed trade to the Baltimore Ravens fell through earlier in the year. Baltimore backed out of the deal at the last minute over concerns stemming from Crosby's meniscus tear. But the All-Pro pass rusher has fully healed and has made it clear he's still fully committed to the Raiders, the franchise that first drafted him eight years ago.
Sunday against the Dolphins will be his chance to show the Ravens were wrong to call off the trade — and that Vegas was wrong to even explore one in the first place. Ahead of the game, though, Crosby received a pointed message from one of the Dolphins' top players, starting left tackle Patrick Paul. Speaking with reporters Tuesday, Paul explained how the goal heading into their Week 1 matchup against Crosby and the Raiders is to try to "get him off his game." "I feel like, yeah, he's a hothead," Paul said.
"A lot of those things you could get into his game with that, but, I mean, he's a great player so you just gotta stay on it all four quarters." More news: Puka Nacua Gets Major Suspension Update Ahead of Rams Season Opener Across seven seasons with the Raiders, Crosby has racked up 69.5 sacks, the sixth-most of any player in the NFL since 2019. He's the face of the franchise, and even at 29 years old, he's still a dominant force coming off the edge. Paul, meanwhile, comes into this season under real pressure of his own.
The Dolphins' second-round pick in 2024, he'll hold down the left side of the line and be primarily responsible for keeping new quarterback Malik Willis upright all season. More news: Latest Chiefs Injury News is the Last Thing Patrick Mahomes Wants to Hear More news: Browns Fans Fuming Over Todd Monken’s Latest Deshaun Watson Announcement The fact that Paul's first test this season comes against Crosby won't make things easy, and now he may have just lit a fire under him by calling him a "hothead." That's the last thing you want to do to a player who always plays with a chip on his shoulder. Kickoff is set for 4:25 p.m.
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