If one thing is certain, it's that the Indianapolis Colts roster needs desperate help, with particular needs on defense. The roster can be built through trades or free agency, and general manager Christopher Ballard will hopefully put in more effort this year to doing just that. A great option could have been Maxx Crosby, a defensive end for the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Colts are in serious need of a good edge rusher; Dayo Odeyingbo is one of the most in-demand free agents in the league, and the other two options - Laiatu Latu and Kwity Paye - are either young and inexperienced or reliable but not extraordinary. There had been some rumors of a potential trade between the Colts and the Raiders, but those rumors are now officially being put to rest - Las Vegas has signed an extension to Crosby's contract, with the help of none other than NFL legend and Raiders minority owner Tom Brady.
Minority owner Tom Brady was present at the #Raiders' facility when Crosby signed his contract, per source. He's has been heavily involved in the Raiders' overall decision-making process, and his presence is a signal that he'll be present in the building this offseason. https://t.co/QjKfkJTLWn
— Tashan Reed (@tashanreed) March 5, 2025
The new contract is a three-year, $106 million deal with $91 million in guaranteed money, making him the highest paid non-quarterback in NFL history. It's not much of a surprise; Crosby is a phenomenal player on defense, having been named to four consecutive Pro Bowls and in the top six in Defensive Player of the Year voting twice in the last three seasons. He ended 2024 with 45 tackles, 7.5 sacks, and 17 tackles for loss; comparatively, the entire Colts defense had 36 sacks total throughout the season.
While Crosby would have been a great addition to the Colts defense, it simply wasn't meant to be. Brady's presence has been used to woo plenty of players to Las Vegas, not always successfully; he notoriously used a ski trip in an effort to attract Matthew Stafford, though it appears not to have worked. This time, though, Brady's magic seems to have worked, and any chance to add Crosby to the Colts is now dead and gone.