New FSM Feature: Raiders Re-Sign Maxx Crosby

Photo Credit: Trisha LaCoste/Franchise Sports Media

New FSM Feature: Raiders Re-Sign Maxx Crosby

March 11th will continue to be a special day for Maxx Crosby, as he inked a new 4-year, $98 million deal with the Raiders.

Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby celebrated the anniversary of his sobriety in a big way on Friday. The Pro Bowl defensive end signed a four-year, $98.98 million contract extension with $53 million guaranteed with the Raiders. Crosby was set to hit free agency next year, but the Raiders locked in one of the NFL’s premier young pass rushers.

The news comes on the second anniversary of Crosby checking himself into an alcohol rehab center.

“It got to a point after my rookie year my life became unmanageable,” Crosby said. “Alcohol, partying, and all that shit became too much of a distraction in my life. It became just overwhelming. I’ve always had issues with drinking and partying throughout high school and college. I’ve been able to slip by and get by, but it became too much for me, and it’s always been that one crutch.” Crosby told ESPN.

“Alcoholism runs in my family, and I’m an alcoholic. So, for me, I knew it was something that was always a crutch. I always knew I had a problem. I knew I couldn’t just drink like everybody else. I got ahead of it. My first year of sobriety is always the hardest, and that was last year. I had a lot of ups and downs. Mentally it was really tough for me. But going in, I’m almost a year-and-a-half sober now, and life is great. I’m really enjoying every single day. I’m enjoying the work.”

Crosby now has the day he checked into rehab tattooed on his right hand: 3-11-20. He picked two years to the day to sign his life-changing contract.

In just three years, the edge rusher has earned every penny of his new contract, going from a fourth-round pick out of Eastern Michigan to a Pro Bowl edge rusher and Pro Bowl MVP.

Crosby’s relentless motor off the edge has made him a menace. He might have been credited with just eight sacks in 2021, but he caused far more havoc than that stat indicates. He generated 82 quarterback pressures and 53 quarterback hurries, both tops in the NFL last season, per Next Gen Stats.

With Crosby secured, the Raiders now can focus on free agency and potential new contracts for quarterback Derek Carr, slot receiver Hunter Renfrow, and tight end Darren Waller. Next year, Carr and Renfrow can be free agents (one could be given the franchise tag), and Waller has two years remaining on his deal, but he’s vastly underpaid.

“I want to be a Hall of Famer,” Crosby told ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez after the deal was announced. “You don’t get to the Hall of Fame with one Pro Bowl and one All-Pro…gotta continue to strive for my goals.”

Crosby is now one of the highest-paid defensive players in the NFL and the third highest-paid defensive end in NFL history.

The 24-year-old is one of the best young edge rushers in the NFL. It’s no coincidence that one of the first moves of the Raiders’ new brain trust was to lock down Crosby for the long haul. He’s the type of building block the Raiders needed to retain to take the next step in a rugged AFC West.

-Joe Arrigo– Franchise Sports Media

Follow Joe on Instagram @JoeArrigoFSM

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