After agreeing with the Las Vegas Raiders on a three-year, $106.5 million contract extension, Maxx Crosby is now the NFL’s highest-paid non-quarterback.
The $35.5 million average annual value of the pact, which includes $91.5 million guaranteed, places the veteran defensive end ahead of Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson, who inked a four-year contract extension last year that has an average annual value of $35 million.
The Raiders haven’t officially announced the parameters of Crosby’s extension. A person familiar with the contract terms confirmed to The Washington Post numbers that had been reported by multiple outlets earlier on Wednesday.
Asked about his newfound status at a news conference Wednesday, Crosby said, “My focus is on winning and being the best player I can be. The money is obviously incredible, for my family and my kids and my future kids, setting everybody up. Financially, not having that stressor is an absolute blessing. It doesn’t change my approach.”
Crosby, 27, was flanked at the media session by the Raiders’ new leadership, Coach Pete Carroll and General Manager John Spytek. They emphasized that the contract made a “statement,” as Carroll put it, about what their version of the franchise values most. Spytek also asserted that Crosby, who has been to four Pro Bowls in six NFL seasons but has only experienced one that ended with a winning record, wasn’t just being rewarded for past performance.
“I told him last night, ‘This isn’t for what you’ve done, but for what you’re about to do,’” Spytek said. “He’s about chasing championships, and so are we.”
Since joining the Raiders in 2019, Crosby has proven productive and, at least until last season, durable. He has led his team in sacks in five of his six seasons, with a total of 59.5, and his 105 career tackles for loss are the most by any defensive linemen over that span (per raiders.com). His 5,226 snaps are also the most of any defensive lineman since 2019.
The Raiders’ decision to lock Crosby up at such a high cost is in part notable for its timing. He still has two years left on a contract that is set to pay him approximately $41 million. In addition, Crosby is coming off an injury-marred season in which his performance appeared to slip.
Having played in every Raiders game from his rookie year through 2023, Crosby missed five last season amid ongoing ankle woes that eventually led to season-ending surgery. Over 12 games played in 2024, he posted his fewest sacks and received his lowest Pro Football Focus grade in four years.
Asked why Las Vegas chose to give Crosby an extension now rather than waiting to see him play more, Spytek replied, “Coach and I talked a lot about setting the tone for this new era of Raiders football, and I can’t think of a better person to reward for what he’s done, but with an expectation of what’s coming. We want to grow this to a place that people want to be.
“When people like Maxx — and it’s no secret it hasn’t been sunshine and roses around here in forever — but when he makes a commitment to the Raiders like this, he stands for everything [we] talk about, I think that speaks volumes. I hope it’s noticed in our locker room and around the league.”
“It’s one thing to be the face of the franchise,” said Crosby, who wore a T-shirt to the news conference that honored legendary former Raiders owner/coach/general manager Al Davis, “but I want to be a winner, and that’s truly all that matters to me.”
“There’s no way we could find anybody that is more focused and directed and committed to giving everything he’s got to every opportunity he’s going to get,” Carroll said. “For us to make this statement today is, like, it fits perfectly. We’re so proud to have Maxx be part of the organization, but he knows that’s just the start and all the rest comes after it — the hard work and the dedication and all the pursuit that makes this thing really special.”
Mark Maske contributed to this report.
