The Dallas Cowboys made one of the more surprising blockbuster moves of the 2025 offseason when they traded star edge rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers in late August, sending him north in exchange for defensive tackle Kenny Clark, a 2026 first-round pick and a 2027 first-round pick. Parsons eventually signed a four-year, $188 million contract with Green Bay, making him the highest paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
The deal reshaped expectations at the position and set a new benchmark in the league for what elite defensive talent can command in draft capital and personnel.
Parsons slotted immediately into the Packers’ front seven. He recorded 44 combined tackles and 12.5 sacks before a season-ending injury sidelined him late in the year, yet his trade haul remains one of the most talked-about deals of the current cycle.
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Parsons’ departure, and the price paid to acquire him, has since become a measuring stick as the next marquee defensive talent enters a potentially pivotal offseason: Maxx Crosby of the Las Vegas Raiders.
Crosby’s situation has generated intense speculation, largely because he is one of the most productive edge rushers in the NFL and carries a contract through the 2029 season, per Spotrac.
In 2025, Crosby recorded 10 sacks and 73 combined tackles in 15 games, bringing his career totals to 69.5 sacks over eight seasons. He’s also a five-time Pro Bowl selection and one of the most respected defensive leaders in the league.
Despite that production and his standing as the face of the Raiders’ defense, talk of a potential move has swirled amid Las Vegas’ struggles and a looming rebuild.
Amid all the discussions, ESPN’s Adam Schefter provided fresh intel on Crosby’s situation with the Raiders.
“Maxx Crosby faces an uncertain future with the Raiders. Despite the speculation that he’ll be traded, the Raiders have been adamant that they don’t want to trade him. And if they did, they’ll be looking at a Micah Parsons package of their own — a lot of draft picks.”
Some headlines from Postseason NFL Countdown, #SuperBowlLX Sunday edition. pic.twitter.com/DpmTX1Gxoe
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 8, 2026
This means that Las Vegas will only consider a Crosby trade if it will bring in asset value similar to what Dallas received for Parsons.
A “Parsons-like” return makes sense on paper: Crosby is in his prime, and acquiring multiple first-round picks would accelerate any rebuild around the No. 1 overall pick the Raiders now hold.
However, the prevailing vibe inside the organization is that Crosby is not expected to be traded, at least not immediately, and that Las Vegas prefers to build around him rather than flip him for picks, even if interest from other teams emerge during the 2026 trade cycle.
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