Fourth-round pick Maxx Crosby has been one of the most impressive rookies at Oakland Raiders. Part of the reason the transition has been easy for Crosby has been due to the weight he has added over the offseason.
Crosby was dominant at Eastern Michigan, totaling 41 tackles for a loss and 20 sacks over his last three seasons. However, he lacked the size to be an every-down player at the next level.
At his recent press conference availability, Crosby admitted that he played at 240 pounds during his final collegiate season. But with an offseason to prepare for the NFL, Crosby is at 266 pounds and is benefiting because of it.
Now that Crosby has the size and athleticism to compete in the NFL, it shouldn’t be long before he is ready to compete for a starting job. According to head coach Jon Gruden, Crosby’s motor is one of the best in the NFL and he continues to grow as a player each and every day. Look for Crosby to become one of the team’s starting defensive ends sooner rather than later.
