The proposed trade from Moe Moton envisions Crosby moving to New England, with the Patriots sending six-year veteran offensive lineman Michael Onwenu plus two first-round picks (this year’s and the 2027 draft) to Las Vegas in return.
The trade would come with a hefty cap impact. Onwenu carries a $25 million cap hit, plus $7.5 million in dead cap money, effectively reducing New England’s cap space by about $18.4 million—still leaving roughly $24.3 million available if no further moves are made. By contrast, Crosby’s $35.9 million cap hit for 2026 would be absorbed by the Patriots’ already substantial cap pool, which Over the Cap lists at about $42.7 million in available cap space.
The blockbuster scenario aligns with continued questions about New England’s pass rush after the Super Bowl. Crosby’s potential arrival would address a unit that registered just one sack and six hits on Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold in the 29-13 loss, a game in which Harold Landry notably failed to make an impact with only one tackle.
Crosby has reportedly told Patriots minority owner Tom Brady that he does not intend to play for the Raiders again, a factor boosting speculation about a potential move. The appeal for Crosby would be a stable, high-profile setting under coach Mike Vrabel, with the Patriots seen as a plausible landing spot for a proven edge presence.
In addition to the Crosby chatter, New England’s post-Super Bowl assessment includes prep for the 2026 draft, with projections like Pro Football Focus’s first-round pick Akheem Mesidor for the Patriots, signaling a broader interest in upgrading the edge-rusher position beyond any single trade.
The trade proposal would, however, carry long-term consequences for the Patriots’ roster construction and draft plans, including a significant hit to early-round capital. Whether the teams view this path as mutually beneficial remains to be seen in the weeks after the Super Bowl.
