Raiders tanking may have just gifted Jets a blockbuster trade opportunity

The Las Vegas Raiders have spent the final stretch of the season leaning fully into draft positioning — or tanking, as some might say — and until Friday, the consequences of that approach felt mostly theoretical.

That changed when news broke that the Raiders were planning to shut down star edge rusher Maxx Crosby for the final two games of the season in a decision the All-Pro defensive end did not take lightly.

Fox Sports' Jay Glazer reported on Friday that Crosby "vehemently disagreed" with the move and left the team's facility in a hurry, which, according to Glazer, immediately sparked questions about his long-term future in Las Vegas.

The Jets, who have done a little late-season tanking of their own with their Garrett Wilson and Brady Cook decisions, could stand to benefit from this short-sighted Raiders move by way of an offseason trade.

Jets could explore dream trade for Maxx Crosby after latest Raiders drama

The Raiders are tied for the worst record in the NFL and staring down a pivotal tank matchup with the Giants this Sunday. Sitting one of the league’s best and most competitive players ahead of that game sent a clear message about priorities — and it ran directly against Crosby’s own.

Earlier in the week, Crosby made it clear he doesn’t care about draft position, saying he plays to win and to be the best defensive end in football. That mindset doesn’t exactly mesh with an organization embracing losses.

On top of that, Crosby has played through injuries throughout his career and built his reputation on toughness and leadership. It's safe to say he doesn't take kindly to being told to stand down for the sake of draft position.

While Crosby remains under contract through 2029 after signing a massive extension last spring, contracts don’t eliminate leverage when a franchise cornerstone is unhappy. If the Raiders continue down this path, the idea of a blockbuster trade no longer feels far-fetched.

That’s where the Jets enter the picture. If a player of Crosby’s caliber ever becomes available, the Jets are uniquely positioned to take advantage.

They have more draft capital than any team in the league, including two first-round picks in 2026, two top-50 second-round picks, and three additional first-rounders in 2027. Even if some of that capital is used to move up for a quarterback, the Jets still have plenty of ammunition to make a bold trade like this.

The Jets desperately need edge help, but they also need leadership. Crosby plays angry. He plays urgent. He plays like winning matters, even when circumstances say otherwise. That’s exactly the type of personality the Jets’ defense has oftentimes lacked this season.

Tanking can accelerate rebuilds, but it can also fracture relationships. The Raiders’ pursuit of draft position could end up alienating their franchise star. And if that door opens even slightly, the Jets may be one of the first teams ready to walk through it.