The Falcons have quite the eventful offseason ahead of them. There will be a new head coach and quarterback in Atlanta, but what shouldn’t be forgotten is the need for another pass rusher, which is why a Maxx Crosby trade should be on the club’s radar.
Ryan Nielsen and a haul of free agents dramatically improved the Falcons defense, but there’s still clearly room to improve. Atlanta totaled 42 sacks in 2023, a stark difference from past seasons. Atlanta posted 21 sacks in 2022 and 17 the year prior, ranking second to last and dead last, respectively.
With a new head coach on the horizon, there’s a potential for a schematic change and Nielsen’s departure. Regardless of the system, a Maxx Crosby trade has to be in the cards if it comes to that in Las Vegas.
Crosby will reportedly request a trade if interim head coach Antonio Pierce is not hired to be the full-time head coach. “I want to be a Raider … but if we go in a different direction, there is nothing that is off the table,” Crosby recently said on his podcast, via The Athletic.
The All-Pro pass rusher is coming off the best season of his career, as he recorded 90 combined tackles, 14.5 sacks, 31 QB hits, 23 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles. The Eastern Michigan product has been selected to three straight Pro Bowls and earned his second All-Pro honor this season.
Crosby signed a four-year, $94 million contract with the Raiders, which is a more than palatable price for one of the best pass rushers in the league. The Falcons, if they acquired Crosby this offseason, would inherit a 27-year-old superstar under contract for three more seasons.
This is all speculative because the Raiders could very well hire Antonio Pierce, which would effectively eliminate the possibility of a Maxx Crosby trade. However, owners don’t hire head coaches to please one player, so it’s more likely that Mark Davis brings in someone else.
The Falcons would be absolute fools not to spin the wheels on a deal. The compensation would start with a first-round pick and go from there, but that’s chump change for a top-five player at the second-most important position in the sport.
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Photographer: Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire
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