Maxx Crosby's 28 TFLs Are The Real Reason The NFC West Should Be Terrified

Alright, 12s, you gotta see this. Bleacher Report just dropped a bomb, listing Raiders Pro Bowler Maxx Crosby's contract as one of the NFL's worsts heading into the 2026 season. Seriously? The dude who terrorizes quarterbacks across the league? Someone needs to check their eyes, because the numbers tell a story that should have every team in the NFC West sweating, including our Seahawks. This isn't just some casual offseason chatter, folks. This is about a dominant force being undervalued, and that's a mistake we can't afford to make.

The 'Worst Contract' Narrative Is Pure Fantasy

Bleacher Report's Brad Gagnon actually put Crosby on his list of the top 10 worst contracts in the NFL. The contract itself is a hefty 3 years, $106.5 million with $91.5 million guaranteed, signed back in 2025. The so-called "problem" according to Gagnon? Crosby, a seven-year veteran, put up a combined 27 sacks in 2022 and 2023, but then "failed to top 10 sacks in either of the last two seasons." He'll be 29 this summer, so a "continued decline is inevitable," and the Raiders are "stuck paying him more than $65 million over the next two years." Gagnon even claimed the Raiders tried trading him this offseason for a reason. But hold up, what if the actual facts just blow that whole idea out of the water?

The TFL Truth That Changes Everything

Let's unpack those sack numbers Gagnon is waving around. Last season, Crosby still racked up 10 sacks, which is tied for the third-most of his career, and he did that in just 15 games. And in 2024, sure, he had 7.5 sacks, his second-fewest, but guess what? He played in only 12 contests! You can't just ignore games missed! But here’s the kicker, the stat that truly makes Gagnon's take look absolutely wild: TFLs. Last year, "Mad Maxx" had a career-high 28 tackles for loss. That wasn't just good, it ranked second in the entire NFL, right behind Myles Garrett and six more than Brian Burns in third place. This isn't a fluke either. Crosby has finished first or second in TFLs in three out of the last four seasons, with the only "outlier" being the year he missed five games. Even then, in 2024, he still had 17 TFLs, tying for the sixth-most in the league! The idea of an "inevitable decline" based on sacks, when a guy is putting up those TFL numbers, just doesn't add up. And guess what? Gagnon didn't even mention injuries as a factor, which might actually be a legitimate concern given the unknowns. The real reason the Raiders tried to trade him? Crosby wanted to move on at one point this offseason. The organization didn't dump him; they didn't accept low-ball offers. So, when we're looking ahead to the 2026 season and who our Hawks have to face, don't let some "worst contract" clickbait fool you. Maxx Crosby is still a certified problem, a disruptor who will wreck game plans. As for actual bad contracts, the source article points to Deshaun Watson, and honestly, can anyone argue with that? We need to be ready for the real Maxx Crosby, not the one Bleacher Report's trying to sell you.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.