Maxx Crosby has been on the lips of Detroit Lions fans the last few weeks, with the pass rusher somewhat subtly hinting at his desire to keep playing football anywhere other than with the Las Vegas Raiders. The star EDGE just finished up a 2025 campaign with the team that drafted him with 10 sacks, two forced fumbles, and an interception.
He's still got plenty in the tank, and he'd be a nice fit next to Aidan Hutchinson, but the cost to snag him from the NFC West might be too much to bare. Multiple first rounders could be on the negotiating table, in addition to shipping out starting caliber talent.
That's an unbelievable net gain for the Raiders, while Detroit would be left to foot the rest of Crosby's $27 million cap hit in 2026, and $28 million in 2027. If only the Lions could net a solid edge rusher in free agency instead if Al-Quadin Muhammad walks for a better deal, right?
Well, it's now become a possibility. The Miami Dolphins just cut Bradley Chubb, which allows the Lions to attempt to bring on the edge rusher in free agency - no picks necessary.
Miami just helped Detroit out in a huge way with Bradley Chubb cut
Chubb, a former 5th overall pick by the Denver Broncos in 2018, had 8.5 sacks last season in addition to two forced fumbles and 7.5 stuffs in 17 games played for the struggling Dolphins. He's a pure sack artist, although health is a question mark with him. He suffered a torn ACL in addition to a meniscus tear and a patellar tendon tear in 2023 immediately after posting 11 sacks.
He subsequently missed the entire 2024 season, but bounced back very nicely in 2025. He'd be a worthy investment at 30 years old for the Lions, as they may be incentivized to let Muhammad go in exchange for some compensatory picks.
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The nice part about going for Chubb in this scenario is that the Lions can negotiate a new deal with him. Chubb, at 30 years old and having already suffered ACL tears in both knees, might be willing to take a smaller deal than what Miami handed to him after trading for him from the Broncos (which was to the tune of 5 years, $110 million).
Detroit still has to figure out some restructurings this offseason to open up cap space, with Jared Goff the likely target for that, but that's a whole lot easier to swallow than giving up a pot of picks for Crosby at this point in the Lions' Super Bowl window.
Chubb and Hutchinson - and genuinely, Hutchinson alongside any great pass rusher - would feast as offensive lines would need to figure out who is worth dedicating more double teams towards. And, more likely than not, whoever they're not double teaming will be getting to the promised land in the pocket.
The Lions should seriously consider targeting Chubb rather than giving up the farm for Crosby this offseason.