The Las Vegas Raiders gave defensive end Maxx Crosby a record-breaking three-year, $106.5 million extension in March just before free agency.
Despite a regime change that brought in new general manager John Spytek and head coach Pete Carroll, the new brass felt that the two-time All-Pro should be compensated like the other great non-quarterbacks in the NFL.
Just because Crosby has been paid, however, does not mean that the Raiders will be an entirely different team. They won just four games in 2024 and still have a ways to go if they want to be a legitimate contender in a brutal AFC.
Crosby seems to think that this team can compete right away, however. He spoke on a recent episode of "Glory Daze" with Johnny Manziel about a few key differences for Las Vegas heading into the 2025 season.
"It's awesome when you don't have to be the only guy. I don't have to go and (expletive) the offense every other day, like I've had to in the past," Crosby said. "You got a guy like Geno (Smith), who's a real leader, he's got his (expletive) guys. He's got their group. Then you got our O-Line, Jackson Powers(-Johnson), he's a young dude, but he's stepping up as a leader. ... That's what you need to win."
This offseason brought massive upgrades in the form of quarterback Geno Smith and running back Ashton Jeanty, and it seems like those players have instilled confidence in players like Crosby as well.
Jackson Powers-Johnson should also settle in at center this year and become one of the best in the league at his position right away.
Las Vegas had the worst rushing attack in the league last season, and arguably the worst quarterback situation as well. However, Spytek seems to have found remedies for both the talent and leadership issues that the Raiders endured last season.
Navigating through the AFC West will still be difficult, as the Chiefs, Broncos and Chargers each won at least 10 games in 2024 en route to a playoff berth.
Crosby is coming off his lowest sack total since the 2020 NFL season, but he missed five games in 2024, marking the first year that he has missed time during his professional career.
However, he has been a full participant in the team's offseason program and should be ready to take this Raiders team to new heights in 2025.
