When it comes to edge rushers in the NFL, there are some really, really good players at the position, and Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby is no doubt deserving of being listed among the league's elite.
And that was spelled out in the recent EDGE rankings from Pro Football Focus' Trevor Sikkema, who placed Crosby at No. 5 on the list.
Ahead of Crosby from No. 1 to No. 4 were the Cleveland Browns' Myles Garrett, the Dallas Cowboys' Micah Parsons, the San Francisco 49ers' Nick Bosa and the Pittsburgh Steelers' T.J. Watt. Here are Sikemma's thoughts on Crosby:
Crosby is often the first name mentioned outside of “The Big 4” above, but it really should be viewed as a “Big 5,” given how impactful Crosby has been for years. 2023 was his third straight year of earning an elite overall grade, and it was his first elite run-defense grade while maintaining a pass-rush win rate above 15.0% and notching 94 quarterback pressures.
That top four is absolutely stacked, so there's certainly no shame in Crosby being where he is. Anyone who knows football knows that when you think of the best of the best edge rushers, Crosby's name is in the conversation.
The Raiders star defender tallied a career-high 14.5 sacks in 2023 after posting 12.5 in 2022. Over the last three seasons in total, Crosby has 35 sacks and three Pro Bowl nods. He does not, however, have a first-team All-Pro selection to his name yet, but that should come at some point.
In terms of Raiders franchise history, Crosby has a shot to make a huge leap up the all-time sacks list. He currently sits in ninth with 52 sacks, but 10.5 sacks in 2024 would move him all the way up to No. 3.
From there, he's got some work to do, as Greg Townsend and Howie Long sit at No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, with 107.5 and 91.5. That said, those marks are well within reach if Crosby can maintain his elite play for another handful of years.
After breaking his career-best sacks total in each of the past two seasons, Crosby has a great opportunity to do it again. Not only has Malcolm Koonce emerged to take some pressure off the star edge rusher, but the addition of Christian Wilkins should further aid in that.
