Max Crosby's recent contract extension with the Las Vegas Raiders is special for a number of reasons.
For one, the Raiders lock down their young, premier pass rusher for the foreseeable future, something the previous government failed to do. The date was also important as Crosby signed his new deal on the second anniversary of his abstinence, serving as another milestone to show how far he has come. Even the dollar amount was noteworthy, $98.98 million, as the detail matches his jersey number.
But beyond just the uniform, the 2019 fourth-round pick's new pay matches his game on the field. Crosby led all Edge Rushers under pressure of 108 during the regular and post season and put himself in conversation as one of the best players in the position in the NFL. He will be paid like one with the new contract, but how does Crosby's new deal stack up against other top EDGE defenders in the league?
TJ Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers
OverTheCap.com Contract Details: 4 Years, $112 million ($28 million/year)
Watt signed a new deal last season that made him the highest paid defender in the league. He lived up to that bill with 22.5 sacks and 62 pressings during the regular season. The 2021 Defensive Player of the Year will earn about $13 million more than Crosby over the life of his contracts, and about $3.25 million more on a per-year basis.
Joy Bossa, Los Angeles Chargers
OTC contract details: 5 years, $135 million ($27 million/year)
Bossa also recently signed a new contract and got paid quite a bit. Last season was the first season where his expansion began and he managed to rack up 10.5 sacks in 2021 with 68 pressures to go. By the time both contracts expire, he will make about $36 million more than Crosby, but only $2.25 million more per contract. The year.
Miles Garrett, Cleveland Browns
OTC contract details: 5 years, $125 million ($25 million/year)
Another on-coming pass rusher who got paid handsomely by the team that drafted him. Garrett challenged Watts for DPOY honors this year with 16 sacks and 78 presses, while being the only edge rusher this season with a higher PFF passing grade than Crosby - 92.7 to 91.9. Brown would make about $26 million more than Raider on his entire contracts, but only about a quarter of a million dollars per year.
Khalil Mack, Los Angeles Chargers
OTC contract details: 6 years, $141 million ($23.5 million/year)
Mack is the only player on this list not to sign a new contract with the team that drafted him. I wonder how did this happen?
Anyway, the three-time All-Pro played only seven games for the Chicago Bears last year, but had six sacks and 22 pressures. He'll earn slightly more cash than Crosby overall -- about $42 million -- but the latter will have more money to spend, about $1.25 million year-over-year.
DeMarcus Lawrence, Dallas Cowboys
OTC contract details: 5 years, $105 million ($21 million/year)
Lawrence signed a new contract in 2019, however, as he struggled with injuries last year and a drop in his production. The Boise State product had only three sacks and 27 pressures during the regular season. He would make about $6 million more than Crosby for the entirety of his contracts, but about $3.75 million less per year.
In other Raiders links:
- Patrick Graham talks Raiders’ defensive philosophy: “It’s a 4-2-5 world. Give us good players, we’ll be good to go,” Graham said.
- Cory Littleton getting cut: Raiders will save about $11.75 million in cap space while taking on $4 million in dead cap.
- Alec Ingold not tendered: the fullback will become an unrestricted free agent as that and other topics were discussed on this week’s podcast.
- Browns and Colts eyeing Derek Carr: Las Vegas’ quarterback will be the topic of a lot of trade rumors until the organization gives him an extension.