The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been linked to one of the most talked about trade scenarios of the 2026 NFL offseason: sending longtime wide receiver Chris Godwin and premium draft picks to the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for five-time Pro Bowler Maxx Crosby.
The idea has sparked debate about Tampa Bay‘s identity and priorities as the franchise looks to balance offensive firepower with defensive firepower.
The proposal originates from a conceptual trade framework by ESPN‘s Ben Solak. In his scenario, the Buccaneers would send Godwin, the No.15 overall pick in the 2026 draft, and a 2027 second round selection to Las Vegas.
In exchange, Tampa Bay would acquire Crosby and a 2027 fifth-round pick. The logic is simple: bolster a pass rush that has been inconsistent for years by adding one of the league’s premier edge defenders.
Crosby‘s rsum speaks for itself. He has tallied double-digit sacks in four straight full seasons and was selected to his fifth consecutive Pro Bowl in 2025.
More than just a sack artist, Crosby has been one of the NFL‘s most disruptive defenders, ranking among the league leaders in tackles for loss, pressures, and quarterback hits, even on Raiders defenses that have struggled overall.
For a Buccaneers defense that has lacked a consistent edge presence. Since 2021, the last player to record 10 sacks in a season was Shaquil Barrett. Crosby‘s arrival would be transformative.
The Bucs‘ struggles generating pressure contributed to defensive inconsistency in 2025, a season in which the unit finished with a modest 37 sacks.
Godwin, meanwhile, brings a different kind of value. A fixture in the Buccaneers‘ offense for years, his reliability as a possession receiver, especially in third-down situations, has been a stabilizing force alongside Mike Evans.
However, injuries limited Godwin to nine games and 33 receptions in 2025, fueling concerns about his long-term availability. Those health questions would be part of what Tampa Bay would be banking on Las Vegas overlooking in trade discussions.
Balancing offensive depth and defensive urgency
The debate around a potential Godwin-for-Crosby swap is deeply rooted in roster construction and financial realities.
Acquiring Crosby, who signed a three-year, $106.5million extension in March 2025, would add more than $30million in cap obligations for Tampa Bay.
That could strain a roster already poised to pay several key contributors meaningful money in upcoming seasons.
Analysts have also questioned whether the proposed package of Godwin and a first and second-round pick would be enough to part with a talent of Crosby‘s stature.
Some projections suggest the Raiders could seek compensation akin to what rival edge rushers have commanded in recent trades, potentially including multiple first-round selections.
From Las Vegas‘s perspective, trading Crosby would be a major shift for a franchise that recently extended him long term.
Reports suggest that the Raiders‘ leadership values Crosby highly and has expressed public confidence in his role alongside their defensive core, though endless trade rumors and differing team trajectories have kept the subject alive.