Raiders: Maxx Crosby’s contract named most team-friendly deal
By Justin Fried
Las Vegas Raiders’ defensive end Maxx Crosby’s contract was named the most team-friendly on the roster.
The Las Vegas Raiders seem to have struck gold with one of their mid-round selections in the 2019 NFL Draft as defensive end Maxx Crosby exceeded all expectations in his rookie season.
A fourth-round pick in last year’s draft, Crosby was expected to compete for time at defensive end with a collection of veterans, but it soon became clear that he was destined for more than just a rotational role.
By the end of the season, Crosby was an every-down starter and one of the most productive players on the team’s defense. His 10 sacks ranked second among all rookies — just a half-sack behind Josh Allen of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
And by all accounts, he was one of the most impressive rookies in the entire NFL. The fact that the Raiders were able to snag him in the fourth round of all places made him all the more valuable.
Not only because the team wasn’t forced to use premium draft capital on him, but because his draft status meant that his contract was incredibly small for a player that produced the way he did.
And that right there makes him incredibly valuable in the team-building process. In fact, there might be no player more valuable to that process on the Raiders’ roster.
Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report recently released an article detailing the most team-friendly contract on each team’s roster. And Crosby earned the nod for the Raiders.
The following is an excerpt from Sobleski’s passage about Crosby.
"“The Las Vegas Raiders’ leading sack artist, Maxx Crosby, is coming off his rookie campaign, so the team doesn’t have to worry about extending his contract for at least two more years, if not longer.To make the situation even more beneficial for the Raiders, general manager Mike Mayock didn’t select the standout defensive end until the fourth round. His base salary won’t exceed $1 million at any point over the next three seasons.”"
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Maxx Crosby’s very affordable contract makes him incredibly valuable to the Raiders.
Mike Mayock seems to have snagged an absolute steal in Crosby who headlined what was a very impressive first draft class for the former NFL analyst.
Along with Crosby, the Raiders also landed a top-flight running back in Josh Jacobs, a promising young cornerback in Trayvon Mullen, a reliable slot receiver in Hunter Renfrow, and a few other players who should fill roles on the team for years to come.
Guys like Clelin Ferrell and Foster Moreau showed promise in 2019 and will look to take that next step in their second NFL seasons. Meanwhile, Johnathan Abram will look to pick up where he left off before his untimely injury.
But to this point, Crosby has been the shining star of the strong class.
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And his cheap contract will only make him more valuable over the next few years as the Raiders attempt to construct a competitive roster.