Maxx Crosby’s Agent: Edge Rushers Set to Dominate NFL’s Non-QB Market

Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby held the distinction of “the NFL’s highest-paid non-quarterback” for just four days.

Earlier this month, after signing a three-year, $106.5 million extension with Las Vegas, Crosby’s new-money average annual value of $35.5 million was quickly topped by Browns defensive end Myles Garrett ($40 million), and then by Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase ($40.5 million).

That wasn’t a surprise to Crosby’s agent, CJ LaBoy, who was anticipating a big market shift this offseason for pass rushers, whom he expects to consistently be the richest non-quarterbacks.

“I do think the edge market will outpace the receiver market, simply because of the players that are coming up for contract extensions,” LaBoy, the SVP of Wasserman’s NFL division, told Front Office Sports.

LaBoy pinpointed Cowboys star Micah Parsons and Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson as the next two to break the record and doesn’t think a receiver will surpass Chase in the immediate future.

“The Bengals kind of backed themselves into a corner by being very public about saying they will make him the highest-paid non-quarterback,” LaBoy said. “So, as that market shifted, they lost control over it. They didn’t have a choice. They’ve already made that promise.”

When negotiating Crosby’s deal, LaBoy said it was “less about the arms race, and more about just doing the absolute best deal for the individual player,” which he feels is just as strong as Garrett’s contract, despite being of lower overall value.

Tom Brady’s Raiders Role

Crosby will be playing for his fifth Raiders head coach and GM (including interims) in Pete Carroll and John Spytek. But before signing his latest extension, Crosby also wanted to get to know the new minority owners in Las Vegas, including Tom Brady.

Raiders SVP and director of football administration Tom Delaney is the team’s primary contract negotiator, which made Crosby’s discussions with upper management more broadly focused. 

“It seems like across the league, the GMs are less involved with the negotiations of contracts,” LaBoy said. “Jon was involved in terms of making sure that their feelings for Maxx were communicated properly.”

And as far as Brady, who has been widely reported to be very involved in roster decisions thus far?

“Brady’s involvement was kind of similar—just communicating their ‘why,’” LaBoy said. “Why are they doing this? Why do they expect so much from Maxx specifically? What they’re trying to build there, the whole nine. But in terms of actually negotiating dollars and cents, they don’t get that involved in that part.”