The Las Vegas Raiders could be in the market for another pass rusher this offseason, as Malcolm Koonce is set to hit unrestricted free agency, and the team lacked dependable and productive edge rushers outside of Maxx Crosby in 2024.
If the Raiders want to take their defense to the next level, CBS Sports’ Tyler Sullivan believes general manager John Spytek should trade for Cleveland Browns superstar edge rusher Myles Garrett.
“The pairing of Myles Garrett and Maxx Crosby would be the most lethal pass-rushing duo in the NFL,” Sullivan wrote. “The Las Vegas Raiders are entering a new era after hiring Pete Carroll as head coach and have the second-highest amount of cap space ($92.5 million) in the league to reboot in a hurry.”
“While playing alongside Crosby would be tantalizing, the main concern for Garrett would likely be Las Vegas’ current quarterback situation, which is to say they don’t have a clear answer at the position at the moment,” Sullivan added. “If they can land a respectable signal-caller, that would certainly make them an even more desirable destination.”
Garrett requested a trade out of Cleveland on Monday, as the All-Pro edge rusher released a statement and wrote that his “ultimate goal” is to win a Super Bowl.
Though the Raiders are far from Super Bowl contenders, pairing Garrett with Crosby is something the team must look into and could interest the superstar defender. The 2017 No.1 overall pick has totaled double digits in seven consecutive seasons and has also been a first-team All-Pro selection in each of the last two years.
Garrett would form one of the greatest defensive duos of all time with Crosby, who is currently the face of the Raiders and has also totaled three double-digit sack campaigns.
Due to Las Vegas’ atrocious quarterback situation and low chance of competing for a championship in 2025, Garrett likely won’t want to join the team. However, the Raiders have enough cap space to endure the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year’s $125 million deal, and Garrett could be the missing piece that turns Las Vegas’ defense into an elite unit.
MORE LAS VEGAS RAIDERS NEWS
Raiders free agent pitch lands projected $112 million star wide receiver in Las Vegas
NFL expert grades for Raiders’ hiring of Pete Carroll as new head coach
4 Ohio State NFL draft prospects to watch for Raiders after Chip Kelly hire
Read the full article here
