Maxx Crosby Raiders drama with 49ers is 'Stranger Things'

LAS VEGAS -- Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby celebrated New Year’s Eve at a "Stranger Things" screening on Wednesday, amidst intensifying trade rumors linking him to the San Francisco 49ers.

While rumors swirled, Crosby’s wife, Rachel, shared Instagram stories from a private screening of the "Stranger Things" Season 5 finale, "The Rightside Up." The event held in Las Vegas, following a massive promotional drone show, coincided with Netflix's global 8 p.m. EST release.

Rachel Crosby captioned the post "😭🖤 so good" and tagged guests, including UCLA tennis player Kimmi Hance, Jakorian Parrish, and Tomislav Krstevski.

Five-time Pro Bowler also reposted a video of his daughter, Ella Rose, captioned "running into 2026 like," marking the holiday despite the professional tension. 

Trade rumors linking Maxx Crosby to the 49ers

Tim Kawakami of 49ers & NFL News 24/7 reported Wednesday that San Francisco could pursue Crosby to address a defensive crisis.

“If the #49ers are clearly a pass rusher short in the playoffs and the Raiders make Maxx Crosby available on the market ... let's just keep an eye on this one,” per Kawakami.

Following season-ending ACL injuries to Nick Bosa and rookie Mykel Williams, the 49ers rank last in pressure rate (25 percent). The Raiders are dealing with more injuries, with Yetur Gross-Matos and Sam Okuayinonu on the radar. That means they need edge depth fast, especially if they make the playoffs and face tough quarterbacks like Caleb Williams or Jalen Hurts.

After a brutal 2-14 season, football pundits believe the star pass-rusher is frustrated with the team’s apparent "tanking" strategy. FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer reported Crosby "vehemently disagreed" with the decision to place him on Injured Reserve for a meniscus trim, allegedly storming out of the facility. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport noted the Pro Bowler is "evaluating his future," though ESPN’s Adam Schefter stated Dec. 30 that the Raiders currently have no plans to trade him.

"The Raiders have no plans to trade him... I don't know if that will change. I don't know if he demands anything and makes it such that they have to trade him, but, right now, that's not how they're thinking," said Schefter (via The Pat McAfee Show).

Despite signing a three-year, $106.5 million extension in March 2025, Crosby’s contract allows for a trade with $5 million in dead money if executed before the third day of the 2026 league year.

A trade would likely require multiple first-round picks as the Raiders look to draft a franchise quarterback like Arch Manning.