Lions' Trade Talks for Maxx Crosby Hit Roadblock

Detroit's plans to acquire the Raiders' star defensive end face complications due to other roster needs.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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The Detroit Lions were reportedly interested in trading for Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby, but those efforts have hit a roadblock at the NFL scouting combine. According to league sources, Lions general manager Brad Holmes was willing to part with two first-round draft picks to acquire Crosby, but recent developments regarding cornerback Terrion Arnold have likely put those trade talks on hold as the team may now need to use an early draft pick on a cornerback.

Why it matters

Adding Crosby would have been a major move to instantly boost the Lions' chances of contending for a Super Bowl, but the team's other roster needs, particularly in the secondary, have complicated their ability to make such an aggressive trade.

The details

Lions head coach Dan Campbell and GM Brad Holmes both expressed an openness to making a 'splash' move in free agency or via trade to improve the team. However, the potential cost of acquiring Crosby, including two first-round picks, may be too high given the team's other priorities, such as addressing the cornerback position.

  • The Lions' trade talks for Maxx Crosby hit a roadblock at the 2026 NFL scouting combine.

The players

Maxx Crosby

A defensive end for the Las Vegas Raiders who has emerged as one of the top pass rushers in the NFL.

Brad Holmes

The general manager of the Detroit Lions who was reportedly willing to part with two first-round picks to acquire Crosby.

Dan Campbell

The head coach of the Detroit Lions who has expressed a willingness to make a 'splash' move to improve the team.

Terrion Arnold

A cornerback who the Lions may now need to target in the early rounds of the draft, complicating their ability to trade for Crosby.

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What they’re saying

“I think it's a disservice to be fixed and closed off on anything that can help the football team. Obviously, with what you're weighing for the future and the right now, bottom line is we have to make those kind of decisions to make sure that we're in the appropriate, let's call it, window, from a financial standpoint to make the moves that we want to make.”

— Brad Holmes, General Manager, Detroit Lions (si.com)

“If it aligns where the splash, money and player all meet, because it's worthy of that on the tape, then absolutely. But then, if you do that, you're out on everything else. So, the competition, depth, the quality depth, that would suffer. So is it worth it?”

— Dan Campbell, Head Coach, Detroit Lions (si.com)

What’s next

The Lions will need to carefully weigh their options and roster needs as they determine whether to continue pursuing a trade for Maxx Crosby or focus their resources elsewhere, potentially on addressing the cornerback position in the upcoming draft.

The takeaway

The Lions' interest in making a 'splash' move to acquire a top talent like Maxx Crosby highlights their desire to quickly turn the team into a contender, but their other roster needs may ultimately prevent them from being able to pull off such an aggressive trade at this time.