The middle of July is the dead period in the NFL with most teams not quite ready for training camp. That means national outlets will produce lists to keep readers engaged. But it is always interesting how the national media views elite players compared to their peers.
In a recent article by Sam Monson of Pro Football Focus, he ranked the top 50 players in the NFL heading into the 2024 season. Not surprisingly, Maxx Crosby was ranked high on the list, coming in at No. 18. Here is what Monson had to say about the Pro Bowl rusher from the Raiders:
Maxx Crosby never seems to get the recognition his play deserves, but he continues to show he belongs in the upper echelon of edge defenders.
Crosby racked up 94 quarterback pressures in 2023 despite battling through a knee injury that lingered for most of the year. He was one of the most effective pass-rushers in the game and may be the best run defender of the elite players at his position.
There might be better pass rushers than Crosby in the NFL, but he is the most complete defensive end in the league. And he doesn’t come off the field. Crosby’s motor runs hot all the time, and he is the heart and soul of Las Vegas’s defense.
Crosby will enter his sixth season in the NFL in 2024, and he is only getting better with age. With Christian Wilkins at defensive tackle, look for Crosby to be in the Defensive Player of the Year conversation this season.
