If there’s one player who embodies the essence of the Las Vegas Raiders, it’s undoubtedly star defensive end Maxx Crosby. Not only is Crosby a force to be reckoned with on the field, but he has also emerged as the true leader of the franchise.
The past season marked Crosby’s pinnacle, setting personal bests in total tackles (90), tackles for loss (23), and sacks (14.5). He secured fourth place in Defensive Player of the Year voting, clinched his third consecutive Pro Bowl appearance, and earned a second All-Pro Second Team selection. Recognizing his exceptional performance, the Raiders deemed it fitting to reward him.
According to Paul Gutierrez of ESPN, the Raiders are granting Crosby a $6 million salary increase for the upcoming 2024 NFL season, without extending his contract—a rare move in the league.
Additionally, the Raiders are shifting $1.2 million from his 2026 salary to the 2025 season, per sources.
If anyone deserves such recognition, it’s Crosby. He pours his heart and soul into every aspect of his game, overcoming obstacles to be on the field for the Raiders. Remarkably, Crosby underwent two surgeries this offseason to address lingering issues from the previous year, amplifying the significance of his stellar performance.
Now, Crosby’s sole focus is on winning and restoring the Raiders to NFL prominence, as he expressed during the team’s offseason workout program:
“It’s been a blessing. It’s been a damn journey, and for me, all that matters at the end of the day is winning, winning for this organization. I pour my heart and soul into this, and I want to be the best leader and teammate I can be on a daily basis. Being a Raider is something that’s special to me. I’ve got real relationships from the owner all the way down to the janitor. I’m here every day for a reason. It’s like a family. There’s not many teams that operate like we do, and we’ve just got to translate that to winning, and it’s just exciting to get things rolling again.”
Without a doubt, Crosby will leave no stone unturned in his quest to elevate the Raiders to victory, and the franchise made a commendable decision in acknowledging his contributions.
In the pursuit of improvement this season, the Raiders aim to bolster their trenches, with last year’s first-round pick Tyree Wilson poised to make a significant impact on the defensive front. Injury-free this offseason, Wilson has been diligently honing his skills, with Crosby serving as a guiding force.
Wilson recently highlighted Crosby’s assistance during the offseason, emphasizing that the Raiders captain isn’t solely focused on on-field matters but also extends support in areas like diet, nutrition, stretching, and proper recovery.
