The 3-year extension makes Crosby the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby is staying in the desert.
The Raiders announced on Wednesday that they had signed Crosby to a new extension. Crosby has been a cornerstone of the defense since he was drafted by the team in 2019. The deal makes him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL.
“Today is a special day,” Crosby said at a
press conference announcing the extension. “Being a part of Raider Nation, being here almost seven years now, it’s been an absolute blessing in so many ways.” Crosby thanked his wife and family, his teammates and coaches for their support; and head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Spytek for working out this extension.
“This program is built around competition, and we’re always in pursuit of finding great competitors that will help us build a great team, and there’s no way we could find anybody that is more focused and directed and committed to giving everything he’s got to every opportunity he’s going to get,” Carroll added. “We’re so proud to have Max be part of the organization, but he knows that’s just the start of it.”
Spytek expressed his gratitude to owner Mark Davis and the team within the organization that helped secure the deal. “There’s no one we‘d rather do it with than Max, and what he stands for, and the way he plays the game, and the passion ... I’m just proud of this guy, and I told him last night, ’This isn’t for what you’ve done, this is about what you’re about to do. And he’s about chasing championships, and so are we. And that’s why we’re excited to start.'”
Details of the deal will not be finalized until the new league year begins next week, but ESPN NFL Insider
Adam Schefter reported that the three year deal is worth a total of $106.5 million with $91.5 million guaranteed. According to
Spotrac, the deal includes a base salary of $35.5 million per year, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback and the 18th highest-paid player in the entire NFL.
Crosby was drafted by the then-Oakland Raiders out of Eastern Michigan in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He had a strong rookie season, netting 10 sacks, 16 tackles for loss (TFLs), and four forced fumbles. He had seven sacks in 2020 and eight in 2020. He went back to his dominant ways in 2022, leading the league in TFLs with 22 and adding 12.5 sacks, 89 total tackles and four passes defended, three forced fumbles and one recovery. He had the best season of his career in 2023 with career highs in total tackles (90) and sacks (14.5). He once again led the league with 23 TFLs, two passes defended, two forced fumbles and a recovery. His 2024 season was cut short by injury, but he still managed 7.5 sacks, 17 TFLs, 45 total tackles, and five passes defended.
The extension also quiets some of the speculation about his future with Vegas. Crosby infamously
shoved a coach on the sideline during the Raiders’ 32-13 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 6. After the Raiders traded wide receiver Davante Adams to the New York Jets at the trade deadline, Crosby made some comments in the locker room that fueled rumors he would want out.
“I’m not here to rebuild, I’m here to win,” he
said at the time. “Wherever I’m gonna be, I’m gonna be [there] to win. That’s all that matters to me.”
Davis
told ESPN shortly afterward that they were not going to trade the veteran pass rusher.
Crosby also complained about the revolving door of head coaches and star players along the defensive line in a December episode of his podcast, “
The Rush with Maxx Crosby.”
Crosby appeared to reaffirm his commitment to the team Wednesday. “It means a lot to me, being a part of the Silver and Black alone, the history. I feel like I’ve said it a million times, I feel like I was meant to be a Raider. I love being here. I love the people. And you look at all the legends that created what this brand is, and that’s winning ... that’s what I want to solidify ... It’s one thing to be a face of a franchise but I want to be a winner, and that’s truly all that matters to me.”
