The Las Vegas Raiders have the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and as a result, it puts them in a unique spot. One corner they find themselves backed into is with their star edge rusher, Maxx Crosby. The team has been on rocky waters with him, especially as the season came to a close, but now it seems he may have played his last game.
NFL insider Jay Glazer discussed it at Super Bowl media week and suggested he had played his final game as a Raider. For the Bucs, this can open the door for them to finally figure out their pass rush problem, which they have been dealing with since Shaq Barrett and his 19.5 sack season in 2019.
The defense has struggled to generate a reliable pass rush, even when blitzing, all season long. They brought in edge rusher Haason Reddick on a one-year prove-it deal this offseason, but that project has not given the results they had hoped for. Yaya Diaby has missed the help when Reddick is missing from the lineup, as well as the assistance of Calijah Kancey in the middle for most of the season.
General manager Jason Licht is known for being conservative in his team-building, working through free agency and the draft, but this team has a Super Bowl window. By acquiring Crosby, they become instant contenders in the NFC for 2026 and could easily lock up the NFC South the moment the paperwork is filed.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: The Buccaneers answer to their pass rush problems may be on the market
Reporting by Andrew Harbaugh, Buccaneers Wire / Bucs Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
