Tom Brady will regret trading away Raiders’ best player before Fernando Mendoza plays a game

Fernando Mendoza might save Tom Brady in Las Vegas.

But trading away Maxx Crosby won’t send the Raiders to the Super Bowl in California next year.

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Brady faces pivotal move with Mendoza waiting in draft

Las Vegas is 7-27 during Brady’s two full seasons as a minority owner who is increasingly hands on.

What are the Raiders going to be without Crosby next year?

Bet on 6-11, at best, which means that Mendoza will instantly become a below .500 quarterback if his name is called as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Cam Ward’s weekly struggles with the 3-14 Tennessee Titans were a reminder that success for rookie quarterbacks is normally determined by organizational fit, not a new player’s arm talent.

In February of 2026, Crosby is too good for these Raiders, who have little to build on and keep teasing that they’re willing to give away their best player if one of the NFL’s other 31 teams is willing to pay the right price.

Las Vegas will ship Crosby away for two first-round picks and a player, according to Pro Football Talk.

That’s serious Micah Parsons value for a 28-year-old edge rusher coming off a knee injury, and who basically told the world that the Raiders tanked to end the 2025 season.

Raiders will trade Crosby for right price

“Maxx is an elite player,” said Las Vegas general manager John Spytek, who praised Crosby but refused to rule out trading the five-time Pro Bowler. 

“I’ve been very upfront from the start when I got here that we’re in the business of having really good players on the team, and we need a lot more of them.”

It’s still unclear what exactly went down between Crosby and Las Vegas in the final weeks of 2025.

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What’s obvious is that whatever Brady is slowly rebuilding in the desert doesn’t match Crosby’s current worldview.

“I learned a long time ago, always listen. I’m always listening,” said Spytek, effectively trying to raise Croby’s trade value during the NFL Combine.

Brady is a seven-time Super Bowl winner and the GOAT of quarterbacks.

But Brady is also split between several worlds in 2026, and blending his $375 million FOX Sports gig with Birmingham City has left the Raiders in a dark 3-14 hole.

Pete Carroll never should’ve been hired as head coach.

Ashton Jeanty deserved a better offensive coordinator than Chip Kelly.

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Geno Smith was a waste of good money as a veteran quarterback.

That’s all on the Raiders’ front office, and it’s easy to see why Crosby keeps building a wall between his NFL future and the 2026 Raiders.

Las Vegas is filled with holes entering NFL Draft

Pairing Mendoza on offense with Crosby on defense should be the first step in rebuilding the new Raiders.

Yet Las Vegas has been so poorly run the last two seasons that the team’s best athlete has become alienated by the silver and black.

Las Vegas had the worst offense in the league last year and the 25th-worst defense.

Spytek is right when he said that the Raiders need “a lot” of good players — emphasis on ‘lot.’

The supremely prideful Crosby deserves much better than 4-13, 3-14, fired coaches and annual roster churn.

After missing on Sam Darnold, Carroll and Smith in 2025, Brady is one blockbuster trade away from taking away Mendoza’s best new teammate on the other side of the ball.

It’s hard to win a Super Bowl when you don’t have a defense.

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