NFLFeature
Browns' KC Concepcion is already 2-0 for Cleveland with Cavaliers and Guardians wins
KC Concepcion kicks off his career with wins for the Cavaliers and Guardians!
Yahoo Sports1 min read
NFLFeature
Raiders DE Maxx Crosby likely to once again be in DPOY conversation
TL;DR
Maxx Crosby of the Las Vegas Raiders is once again in the conversation for the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year award in 2026, following a strong performance last season with 10 sacks. He aims to surpass the impressive benchmarks set by recent winners like Myles Garrett and Nick Bosa.
Key points
- Maxx Crosby is a defensive end for the Las Vegas Raiders.
- Crosby logged 10 sacks in 15 games last season.
- He aims for the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year award in 2026.
- Recent DPOY winners include Myles Garrett, Nick Bosa, and T.J. Watt.
- Watt and Strahan share the single-season sack record of 22.5.
Las Vegas RaidersMaxx CrosbyMyles GarrettNick Bosa
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby has come close to winning the AP NFL Defensive Player Year award multiple times in his career. The veteran edge rusher will get another shot at making his bid for the top defensive honor in the NFL in 2026, with some added motivation.
Crosby logged 10 sacks in 15 games played last season. His career-high is 14.5 from the 2023 season which was his last fully healthy season.
Four of the last five Defensive Player of the Year awards have gone to edge rushers, being Cleveland Browns reigning DPOY and DE Myles Garrett (2023, ‘25), San Francisco 49ers DE Nick Bosa (2022) and Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt (2021).
The bar that those three set when they won the award serves as a measuring stick for Crosby in 2026. Watt tied Michael Strahan's single-season sacks record with 22.5 in 2021. Bosa led the league in sacks with 18.5 in 2022. Garrett broke Strahan's decades-old record, later matched by Watt, with 23 sacks in 2025.
The 28-year-old has many things going for him as a perennial DPOY candidate. He's finished in the top six in voting twice in his career. Crosby has also led the league in tackles for loss twice.
In this Raiders Wire projection, Crosby will finish No. 3 in the DPOY race in 2026 -- his best finish yet -- while going for 16.5 sacks.
Q&A
What were Maxx Crosby's sack numbers last season?
Maxx Crosby recorded 10 sacks in 15 games during the last season.
Who are the recent winners of the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year award?
Recent winners include Myles Garrett, Nick Bosa, and T.J. Watt, with Garrett winning in 2023 and 2025.
What is the single-season sack record in the NFL?
The single-season sack record is 22.5, tied by T.J. Watt and Michael Strahan.
