As Buffalo Bills fans are hyper aware of, the franchise isn’t beginning the 2026 offseason with much wiggle room in cap space. It’s not a failing of general manager Brandon Beane, mind you, as roughly a quarter of the NFL is in the red as this offseason begins.
Beane, just like any GM, has the means to create space through contract restructures and such. Our own Brandon Ray recently configured the math to see a route where Buffalo could open up $50 million in cap space before free agency begins in March. Spotrac co-founder and editor Mike Ginnitti, who recently joined WGR 550’s Jeremy and Joe Show, said the Bills could clear $40 million with relative ease.
With that in mind, Bills fans can get a better idea of what moves Beane can make once he has some usable money. The Mafia will be happy to know that once the finances are sorted, one of their top wishlist acquisitions this offseason is firmly on the table.
Brandon Beane, Bills have the cap flexibility to make a Maxx Crosby splash
Ginnitti also explained why the Bills shouldn’t have too much issue acquiring Las Vegas Raiders EDGE Maxx Crosby in a trade this offseason, even with his large three-year, $103 million contract coming with him.
“You’re looking at, though, about a $30 million cap hit to acquire him,” Ginnitti said. “Obviously, you can move that around once he’s in the house, and maybe a new contract comes with that trade.”
Crosby’s current contract will see him earn $30 million in guaranteed money next season, with several million added in bonuses. His cap hit is set to be just over $35 million next season in Las Vegas. As Ginitti mentioned, though, the Bills would be able to move that money around or even opt to sign him to a fresh deal that spreads his massive paychecks out more.
While new Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak said he’d like to keep Crosby in the desert, several reports have all but confirmed that Crosby doesn’t want to return to Las Vegas next season. As Ginitti mentioned on WGR 550, though, the Raiders won’t incur a penalty for themselves in trading away Crosby beyond losing arguably their best player.
That said, NFL Insider Jay Glazer also said recently that he believes Crosby’s price tag in a trade could be even higher than what the Green Bay Packers sent to Dallas for Micah Parsons back in August.
Nonetheless, it could be some time before Crosby is dealt, according to NFL Insider Ian Rapoport, as Crosby continues to rehab his injured knee, which is the injury that the Raiders put him on Injured Reserve for late in the regular season.
All of that, and we’re still in the early stages of whatever is next for Crosby in his NFL journey. However, Bills Mafia can claim a bit of excitement at the possibility that Crosby will be acquirable, even at a steep price.