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Best candidates for DE at the NFL trade deadline

Best candidates for DE at the NFL trade deadline

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Las Vegas Raiders They are 2-7 and in last place in the AFC West. Week 8 loss to your league rival Kansas City Chiefs27-20 and 41-24 Week 9 loss to Bengals. After already trading away their biggest star on offense, the receiver Davante AdamsThey may need to consider doing the same with their biggest defensive stars as they embark on a rebuild.

edge rusher Maxx Crosby Since entering the league in 2019, he has consistently been one of the best players at his position. He had three seasons scoring in double figures, entered 2024 off three straight Pro Bowl seasons and led the league in tackles for loss. last two years.

Crosby has 6.5 sacks so far this season. He’s also on pace to approach his tackles-for-loss totals over the last two years.

Thanks to Crosby’s strong NFL career recap and impressive season so far, Las Vegas could see a solid return on its draft picks if it changes its rushing attitude. Nevertheless, Raiders owner Mark Davis reportedly emailed ESPN “We Are Not Trading Maxx Crosby Before or After the Trade Deadline!!!”

Crosby’s contract this year will come with a cap hit of over $30 million, leaving only $10.2 million dead cap with a possible exit after this season. Potential candidates for the star defenseman will likely need to restructure his deal to get him under the cap.

Maxx Crosby: Trade available Raiders edge rusher

Detroit Lions

Crosby to the Lions is the trade fit that analysts and fans have been discussing for weeks. Detroit is a bona fide candidate for a second straight Super Bowl with its 7-1 record and the NFL’s leading rushing attack to begin the season.

But the Lions’ defensive line took a big hit in Week 6 with the emergence of edge rusher. Aidan Hutchinson suffers season-ending injury against the Dallas Cowboys. Hutchinson led the NFL with 7.5 sacks in the five games before his injury.

Prior to Week 9, Detroit ranked 13th in the NFL with a pass completion rate of 44%. There are two teams in the NFC North that are in the top 10 in pass block win rate: the Chicago Bears and the Minnesota Vikings. All three AFC North teams have quarterbacks who are playing well this year. Crosby could provide the Lions with an excellent weapon for the remainder of the season and an exciting partner for Hutchinson for years to come.

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles are in second place in the NFC East and will make the playoffs as a 6-2 wild card team if the season ends after Week 9. Philadelphia has had solid second-year rookies this season. Cooper DeJean And quinyon mitchell They accelerate in their first year.

But the 2022 NFC champions are missing an effective playmaker off the bench since the trade Haason Reddick to the Jets this summer. No defensive lineman has more than three sacks and no offensive lineman has more than four tackles for a loss.

Crosby could make a big difference as an additional piece on the Eagles’ defensive front. His presence as a consistent blocker in the backfield could also create more opportunities for big plays for the Philadelphia secondary.

Green Bay Packers

Green Bay sits in third place in the NFC North after Week 9, two games behind the Lions at the top of the league. The offense is one of the best in the NFL regardless of who is playing quarterback; He ranks in the top 10 in passing, rushing, total yards and points per game. His defense has the NFL’s leader in tackles and safeties Xavier McKinneyand is the league leader in takeaway services with 19 points.

The Packers are in a great position with a young core, but they could be even better with a more threatening passing attack. Green Bay ranks 31st in the league with a 31% pass rush rate and does not have a player with more than three sacks or an edge defender with more than seven tackles for loss. Crosby would be a huge improvement for the Packers at his position and give Green Bay a chance to make a deep playoff run.

Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys fell below .500 again after losing to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 8 and the Atlanta Falcons in Week 9 on “Sunday Night Football.” They are in third place in the NFC East and are at risk of missing the playoffs if they can make it. The ship won’t be righted anytime soon. According to reports, Dak Prescott expected to miss multiple games with a hamstring injury.

Dallas’ offense has issues, but its defense has been an even bigger problem this season. The Cowboys have totaled 104 points in their last three games, rank 31st in points per game allowed, are the fourth-worst team in EPA (expected points added)/game allowed, and have a pass-rush win rate of 35%, good 26th in the NFL. Moreover, they were lost Micah Parsons And DeMarcus Lawrence Has lower body injuries since week 4.

Dallas desperately needs reinforcements on the defensive line, and Crosby is the best player available. He would fill a void the Cowboys have missed since the injury of Parsons, the sack leader the past three seasons. With Parsons back, he and Crosby will form one of the most threatening passing attacks in the league and give the team an even bigger boost.