The Los Angeles Rams made two of the boldest moves in the NFL this offseason by trading for All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie and taking quarterback Ty Simpson in the first round. It looks like another big move could be coming later this year.
The Athletic's Nate Atkins reports that the Rams could consider trading for All-Pro edge rusher Max Crosby in October if the Las Vegas Raiders make him available.
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Atkins said the Raiders organization has improved its relationship with Crosby. As a result of the Baltimore Ravens withdrawing from a deal for Crosby, the Raiders appear to be committed to keeping him for the regular season.
If the team doesn't live up to expectations and isn't in the mix for a playoff spot, Las Vegas' stance on trading Crosby could certainly change during the season. While the All-Pro edge rusher won't be returning a pair of first-round picks, the Raiders could still get premium draft capital for him.
Read more: NFL defense rankings 2026, Rams on top
Los Angeles Rams taking unique approach on trade
One problem Las Vegas will likely face if it makes another Crosby trade is the value teams are offering on the 2027 NFL Draft. This is viewed as a deeper class of prospects with more high-level talent than the 2026 class and potentially one of the best pools of talent in years.
As a result, teams have been more reluctant to trade 2027 draft picks. While this stance is shared by most of the league, that is not the case in Los Angeles.
Atkins wrote that the Rams "want to be" one of the very few teams willing to trade 2027 draft capital. This would give them potential leverage in trade negotiations, especially as teams in rebuilds are placing more emphasis on picks in next year's class.
