How Maxx Crosby nearly joined the Rams
The Los Angeles Rams came within clear view of a very different offseason blueprint when NFL reporter Tom Pelissero wrote that the club “strongly considered” acquiring Maxx Crosby, an elite edge who had just signed a three-year $106.5 million extension and was returning from knee surgery. Heavy – Los Angeles Rams detailed Pelissero’s Week 1 notebook and the way Los Angeles circled Crosby while his proposed trade to Baltimore unraveled.
That revelation matters because the Rams entered the offseason with productive young rushers and then pivoted to a blockbuster trade for Myles Garrett on June 1, a move that reshaped how snaps and matchups are allocated along the edge.
Key Takeaways
- Tom Pelissero reported the Rams “strongly considered” acquiring Maxx Crosby in the spring while Baltimore reportedly walked away from a proposed trade over concerns about a repaired knee.
- Los Angeles instead acquired Myles Garrett on June 1 in a multi-asset trade that included Jared Verse and multiple draft picks, reshaping the edge-room hierarchy.
- Pelissero wrote that if Crosby appears fully recovered, teams should expect calls before the Nov. 10 trade deadline.
How Maxx Crosby would have changed the Rams pass rush
Maxx Crosby’s skill set would have altered Los Angeles’ rush plan in both schematic and personnel terms, pairing an established technician with the Rams’ existing youth rather than inserting a single transformational interior-leaning force.
Crosby posted 10 sacks, 28 tackles for loss and 20 quarterback hits in 15 games after returning from knee surgery, a production profile that kept him squarely on contender radars.
Los Angeles chose Garrett instead; Garrett set the NFL single-season record with 23 sacks in 2025, which created a different ceiling and forced the front office to reconfigure rotational priorities.
The Rams finished tied for seventh with 47 sacks in 2025, Byron Young totaled 12 sacks, and Jared Verse had earned a Pro Bowl selection before being included in the Garrett trade, a combination that made the front office willing to move proven young talent to land a game-changer.
Medical concerns played a documented role in the Crosby timeline, as Pelissero reported Baltimore backed out of an early deal over issues tied to a repaired knee; Crosby later returned to practice and described his ramp-up positively, but the reported concerns created a window in which teams monitored rather than closed.
Pass rush production and contract context
| Player or unit | 2025 on-field production | Contract or transaction context |
|---|---|---|
| Maxx Crosby | 10 sacks, 28 TFL, 20 QB hits in 15 games | Signed a three-year $106.5 million extension in March 2025 that runs through 2029 |
| Myles Garrett | Set the NFL single-season record with 23 sacks in 2025 | Acquired June 1 in a trade that included Jared Verse and multiple draft picks |
| Los Angeles Rams (team) | Tied for seventh with 47 sacks in 2025; Byron Young had 12 sacks | Front office leveraged young assets to acquire Garrett and restructured edge depth |
Roster construction and deadline positioning for the Rams
Pelissero noted that if Crosby looks like his old self, Raiders general manager John Spytek should expect calls ahead of the Nov. 10 trade deadline, a dynamic that matters to Los Angeles because the Rams demonstrated they were actively exploring multiple blockbuster routes in the spring.
With Garrett on the roster, the Rams are less likely to be primary callers on Crosby while still preserving the option to pursue edge help if injuries or performance issues force a deadline reevaluation.
The front office has signaled a willingness to move assets for top-end pass rush talent, which changes how the team will approach short-term roster construction and deadline scouting.
