Las Vegas lines the pocket of superstar defensive end
Thursday night, the Las Vegas Raiders bumped the salary of superstar pass-rusher Maxx Crosby to help make him one of the highest-paid players at his position.
According to ESPN, the Raiders added $6 million to Crosby’s 2024 salary and moved $1.2 million from his 2026 deal to 2025. So, Crosby, who turns 27 in August, gets a bump of $7.2 million in the next two years.
Raiders reworked the contract of three-time Pro Bowl DE Maxx Crosby to give him a $6 million raise for the upcoming season, per league sources.
The team also moved an additional $1.2 million into 2025.
The Raiders wanted to reward their leader, culture setter, and one of the… pic.twitter.com/ZKlXq63aLl
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 24, 2024
Here are some thoughts on the move:
So well deserved:
Crosby is one of the best defensive players in the NFL regardless of position. He signed a four-year contract extension in 2022 worth $94 million for an average of $23.5 million with $53 million guaranteed. Of course, NFL salaries go up, so Crosby fell back on the pay scale for defensive ends. He was scheduled to be the ninth highest paid player at his position. Now, he is near the top of the league with an annual average pay of $25.9 million. His contract runs through 2026. One would think, Crosby will get another huge contract prior to that season. So, this was a nice way of keeping Crosby among the league leaders in salary during the course of his contract. it’s a move many teams do with top-end talent.
They have the means:
Prior to giving Crosby this raise, the Raiders had more than $17 million in salary-cap room with more to come when Jimmy Garoppolo’s salary starts to come off the books after June 1. So, this is a good way to use it.
Strong gesture by new GM:
This decision shows new Las Vegas general manager Tom Telesco knows the value of his inherited players. It’s a nice sign of respect for the team’s best player and it shows the locker room that their talents are being recognized and appreciated.
More to come?
The team could give raises (more likely extensions) to other players including Malcolm Koonce, Nate Hobbs, Tre’von Moehrig, Divine Deablo and Robert Spillane this offseason.
Conclusion:
Crosby is a bad MOFO. Keeping him happy and feeling appreciated is of the utmost importance . So, this a strong move.