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The Las Vegas Raiders head into the 2026 season with plenty of questions to answer, and a lot of those conversations will start at quarterback. The player taking snaps will get the attention, the debates and probably a little too much blame when things go wrong. That’s just life for quarterbacks.
But when you look beyond the most important position on the field, the Raiders’ most important player might still be the one who has been carrying the torch on defense for years: Maxx Crosby.
Crosby has become the identity of this Raiders defense. He’s more than a guy who piles up sacks and pressures. He’s the player who brings an edge every single week, the kind of defender who can change the mood of a game.
That’s what separates him. Some players make plays when everything lines up perfectly. Crosby has built his reputation by creating those moments himself. He somehow always seems to be around the ball when Las Vegas needs something to happen.
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For a team trying to build something sustainable, having a player like that is everything. The NFL moves fast, and rosters can look completely different from one season to the next. Crosby has been the constant, so far at least, setting the standard with his preparation, toughness and the kind of effort coaches love.
Brock Bowers is another piece who could become a huge part of where this franchise goes. The young tight end has the talent to make life much easier for whoever is playing quarterback, creating matchup problems and giving the Raiders an offensive weapon they haven’t had in years.
But Bowers is still writing his story in Las Vegas. Crosby has already written plenty of chapters.
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The Raiders still have work to do in 2026. They need answers at quarterback, growth from their younger players and a lot of things to break their way. But every team trying to make a run needs someone who can take over when the game gets ugly. Really ugly.
For Las Vegas, that’s Crosby. He’s been the heartbeat of this defense, and as long as he’s wearing silver and black, the Raiders know they have a player capable of changing a game with one wild moment.
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