Tom Brady Blocked Patriots From Landing Maxx Crosby

The former New England QB reportedly didn't want his former teammate Mike Vrabel to acquire the star pass rusher.

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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The Las Vegas Raiders traded star defensive end Maxx Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens, ending speculation that the New England Patriots could acquire him. According to reports, Tom Brady, who is a minority owner of the Raiders, was never going to let Crosby go to his former teammate Mike Vrabel and the Patriots, even though New England had interest.

Why it matters

This move highlights the ongoing rivalry between Brady and his former team, the Patriots, as well as the influence Brady wields as a minority owner of the Raiders. It also means the AFC North will feature an abundance of elite pass rushers, making life difficult for quarterbacks like the Bengals' Joe Burrow.

The details

The Raiders traded Crosby to the Ravens in exchange for two first-round draft picks. While several teams reportedly inquired about Crosby, the Patriots were never seen as a serious contender, in part because of Brady's unwillingness to send the star pass rusher to his former teammate Vrabel and the Patriots.

  • The trade between the Raiders and Ravens was completed on March 8, 2026.

The players

Tom Brady

A minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders and former quarterback of the New England Patriots, where he played with current Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel.

Maxx Crosby

A star defensive end who was traded from the Las Vegas Raiders to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for two first-round draft picks.

Mike Vrabel

The current head coach of the Tennessee Titans and former teammate of Tom Brady on the New England Patriots.

Joe Burrow

The quarterback of the Cincinnati Bengals, who will now have to face Crosby, Myles Garrett, and T.J. Watt twice a year in the AFC North.

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What’s next

The Patriots will now have to look elsewhere to address their pass rush needs, either through free agency or the upcoming NFL Draft.

The takeaway

This trade highlights the ongoing rivalry between Tom Brady and his former team, the New England Patriots, as well as the influence Brady wields as a minority owner of the Raiders. It also means the AFC North will feature an abundance of elite pass rushers, making life difficult for quarterbacks like the Bengals' Joe Burrow.