The NFL offseason is here, which means it’s speculation season. It’s a time when superstar players become the centerpiece of wild “what if” scenarios that are the product of endless imagination.
Green Bay Packers fans always love these trade scenarios. Less than 15 days into February, some are already calling for their beloved franchise to reunite with Davante Adams, while others believe that Myles Garrett could come to Wisconsin and serve as a modern-day Reggie White.
I’m guilty as charged on the second one.
Maxx Crosby is another player at the center of trade speculation. He strongly advocated for Antonio Pierce, but the Las Vegas Raiders chose to move on from Pierce. The Raiders seem to be headed toward a rebuild, and Crosby has already made it clear that he wants to be in a “win-now” situation.
“I’m not here to rebuild, I’m here to win,” Crosby said. “So, you know, I don’t know. Whatever that means, but yeah, I’m here to win now. And wherever I’m gonna be, I’m gonna here to win. So that’s all that matters to me.”
The Packers are in desperate need of pass-rush help. Just as Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, and the rest of the receiving corps need a true No. 1 option, Rashan Gary, Lukas Van Ness, and Brenton Cox Jr. need an elite edge rusher alongside them to create more one-on-one opportunities for the rest of the group.
Green Bay ranked as a top-10 defense in nearly every statistical category despite finishing just 26th in pass-rush win rate. Imagine how dominant Jeff Hafley’s defense could be if they could consistently pressure the quarterback.
Brian Gutekunst has emphasized Green Bay’s urgency to compete for championships, and a move for Crosby aligns with the type of aggressive decisions contenders make. Crosby, a three-time Pro Bowler with 57.5 career sacks, is entering the third season of a four-year, $94 million contract extension signed in March 2022.
According to Spotrac, his base salary was $24.5 million this season, dropping to $22.2 million in 2025 and $18.8 million in 2026. If the Packers were to trade for him, they would likely need to negotiate a contract extension because Crosby probably wouldn’t want to play just two years before hitting free agency.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport made an interesting and potentially revealing note about Crosby’s future.
Trading Crosby for a bounty of picks would be one way to expedite that process, and Crosby might welcome the change, particularly if it’s to a playoff team where he knows people (e.g., Green Bay).
Rapoport has well-connected sources within NFL circles and could have mentioned any of the other 30 teams. However, he specifically referenced Green Bay. The Packers are a playoff team and just so happen to employ Rich Bisaccia, who was Crosby’s interim head coach in 2021. They also have Josh Jacobs and Keisean Nixon, who played with him in Las Vegas. Another former teammate, Davante Adams, could also be on his way to a reunion with the Green and Gold, potentially giving Crosby more reason to consider Wisconsin as a destination.
Everything is in place for the Packers to pursue Crosby. Green Bay has the cap flexibility and the urgency to improve its pass rush. Crosby wants to play for a team that can compete for championships, and the Packers fit that mold. Familiar faces within the organization should only encourage him to make the move. Keisean Nixon has already started recruiting him, and when you consider all these factors, a trade makes sense for all parties involved.
History shows the Packers have rarely been willing to trade significant draft capital for a player, but this offseason presents a unique opportunity to break that trend. Still, I’ve learned to keep my expectations low, and I’d expect Green Bay to target a less high-profile name like Azeez Ojulari instead. Regardless, there’s too much logic behind making a move for Crosby. Whether Brian Gutekunst sees it the same way remains to be seen.
