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Patriots spend $200M in free agency and still stun the NFL — trading first- and third-round picks for Raiders star Maxx Crosby, sending a clear Super Bowl LX message as his response ignites Patriots Nation

Foxborough, Massachusetts – 1/11/2025

The New England Patriots have once again sent shockwaves through the NFL. Despite already spending over $200 million USD in the free agency period, Coach Mike Vrabel’s team shows no signs of slowing down. According to confirmed sources from ESPN and Boston Herald, the Patriots are planning to trade a 2026 first-round pick and a 2026 third-round pick to acquire defensive star Maxx Crosby from the Las Vegas Raiders – a move seen as the strongest declaration yet for the Super Bowl LX campaign.

Raiders Announce Max Crosby News on Friday - Athlon Sports

Crosby, a four-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro selection, is regarded as one of the NFL’s premier pass rushers with 42.5 sacks over the past four seasons. Adding him to an already formidable defensive front featuring Christian Barmore and Milton Williams turns the Patriots into one of the league’s most fearsome defensive units.

According to an internal source, the trade package includes: Patriots receive: Maxx Crosby (EDGE) + 2026 sixth-round pick (conditional) Raiders receive: 2026 first-round pick and 2026 third-round pick + LB Anfernee Jennings

An AFC executive commented: “This is a Super Bowl trade. If anyone is worth the Patriots going all-in for, it’s Maxx Crosby.”

In the press conference immediately after the news broke, Coach Mike Vrabel flashed a cryptic smile when asked about the prospect of coaching Crosby:

“I won’t reveal too much… but if there’s a chance to coach someone like Maxx, I think any coach would be excited. He embodies the fighting spirit – and that’s the kind of team we’re building here. Guys like him don’t just change games — they change locker rooms.”

Even more intriguing, when Crosby – during an interview in Las Vegas – was asked about the rumors linking him to New England, he responded with subtle finesse instead of dodging: “The Patriots are a team I’ve always respected. They play football the way I like — disciplined, intense, and always for the win. As for the future? I can only say… the NFL is always full of surprises.”

That brief statement was enough to send Patriots Nation into a frenzy on social media. From Foxborough to Boston, fans flooded timelines with images of “Mad Maxx” in red-and-blue jerseys alongside the caption: “Super Bowl, we’re coming.”

If this trade is finalized as projected, the Patriots will boast the infamous defensive trio: Crosby – Barmore – Williams, paired with Vrabel’s youthful linebacker corps – a steel wall capable of threatening every offense in the AFC.

And with this move, there is no doubt left: the New England Patriots have officially declared war on the entire NFL.

Just Three Hours After Being Released by the Packers, 2× Pro Bowl Star Deletes Every Post About Green Bay After His Attempt to Take a Pay Cut to Stay Was Rejected — His Vow Never to Return Leaves Packers Nation in Sympathy
Green Bay, Wisconsin – The offseason took an emotional turn for the Green Bay Packers when the organization decided to release veteran offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins as part of a salary-cap adjustment. But what happened just hours later turned the situation into one of the most emotional storylines of the week across the NFL. According to multiple reports, Jenkins — a two-time Pro Bowl selection and former All-Pro honoree — had attempted to negotiate with the team and even offered to take a pay cut in order to remain with the franchise that originally drafted him. The effort ultimately fell short as Green Bay chose to move forward with a roster reset, clearing nearly $20 million in cap space for the 2026 season. Just three hours after the release became official, fans began noticing something unusual on Jenkins’ social media accounts. Every post connected to his years in Green Bay — from locker room celebrations to photos wearing the iconic green-and-gold uniform — had quietly disappeared. Jenkins had been one of the pillars of the Packers’ offensive line since being selected in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Mississippi State. Throughout multiple seasons, he built a reputation for rare versatility, capable of playing guard, tackle, and center at an elite level, and was widely regarded as one of the most reliable and flexible offensive linemen in the league. At his peak, Jenkins was often described as Green Bay’s “secret weapon” on the offensive front. He protected multiple quarterbacks over the years and helped anchor an offense that consistently remained competitive during several playoff runs. His ability to seamlessly shift across nearly every position along the offensive line made him one of the most trusted players inside the Packers’ locker room. At first, the decision to erase those memories surprised many fans. But once reports surfaced that Jenkins had been willing to sacrifice financially just to remain with the team, the reaction across Packers Nation quickly shifted from shock to empathy. Green Bay will always hold a special place in my heart because it’s where my journey truly began. But sometimes you fight to stay somewhere and still realize that chapter has ended, and when that moment comes, the only thing you can do is walk away with respect for every memory that was built there. While Jenkins did not criticize the organization, sources close to the situation say the emotional weight of the release influenced his decision to remove the posts. What surprised many even more was the report that Jenkins has told people close to him that he does not plan to return to Green Bay at any point in his career, choosing instead to start an entirely new chapter elsewhere in the NFL. Yet instead of anger, the reaction from Packers fans has largely been one of understanding. For many supporters, Jenkins’ willingness to take a pay cut simply reinforced what they had long believed. He wasn’t just protecting the quarterback on Sundays.He was trying to protect a home he once hoped would last his entire career.