Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - No-Brainer?: Maxx Crosby And Patriots Destined For Each Other?

Starting point is 00:00:00 Some people believe trading for Max Crosby would be a no-brainer. I am not one of those people. And I'm going to tell you why. This is Lockdown Patriots. You are Locked-on Patriots, your daily New England Patriots podcast, part of the Locked-on Podcasts network, your team every day. What's happening in? I am your host, Nick Cattell's born and raised in New England, been covering the paths for the past 16 years. Also, the co-host of the Greg Bedard Patriots podcast with,

Starting point is 00:00:35 the Cattles and a sports radio veteran. Welcome to Lockdown Patriots, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network. Now the number one sports podcast network, your team every day. On today's show in the third segment, David Injoku is set to be a free agent and should be on the Pat's radar. In the second segment, I don't think it's a fit accompli that Caleb-on Chase on is playing in a different uniform next season. But first, Max Crosby. Today's episode is brought to you by Fandul using your first. profit boost on an NBA future, get entered for your chance to win a trip to the NBA finals,

Starting point is 00:01:11 play your game with Fandul, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. Adding Max Crosby in a vacuum is a no-brainer. If I just told you the Patriots tomorrow would have Max Crosby on their roster for 2026, I would guarantee that at least 98% of you would give me the double thumbs up. Yeah, let's do it. Max Crosby added to the Patriots, he is a stud defensive edge. And even myself, I've said, the Patriots, what do they need? Top need to me?

Starting point is 00:01:44 Defensive edge. You might be able to argue wide receiver one. Some of you would say offensive line. I think it's defensive edge. And the Patriots have all the resources that would allow them to make a move, like bringing in Max Crosby. They have 11 draft picks. They have a first round pick.

Starting point is 00:02:06 They have $40 million plus in cap space. They have all the resources. And we heard from Diana Rusini. I heard it. You heard it. We all heard it by now. Diana Rusini on Radio Road during Super Bowl week saying that Max Crosby loves Mike Ravel and he loves the idea of playing for Mike

Starting point is 00:02:27 Vrable. So a lot of this seems like a no-brainer. but here's where I draw the line. It's the $100 million question. What would it cost to trade for Crosby and would it be too much to give up in the situation the Patriots are in right now? Crosby's market, let's not get it twisted. Let's not get funky on this.

Starting point is 00:02:51 Crosby's market is going to be big. It's going to be large. It's going to be gigantic. Many, many, many teams are going to be interested in Crosby. Radio Row heard it. Oh, as many as 15, 20 teams were reaching out about Max Crosby as soon as the end of the season issue happened between he and the Raiders. He is prolific when it comes to production.

Starting point is 00:03:17 Doug Cide, Boston Herald had these numbers. Crosby has 69 and a half sacks in five Pro Bowl selections and seven seasons. He's coming off of a 10-sack season and 15 games. He was a pro bowler in 2025. Crosby has led the NFL in tackles for loss twice in his career and has 133 TFLs in seven seasons. He's accumulated 164 quarterback hits to go along with one interception, 29 passes defended 11 forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.

Starting point is 00:03:52 His motor is nonstop. His talent is unquestionable. He turns 29 years old in August. I believe Crosby has at least three years, if not four years, of really good play left in that body. Very productive, still under 30, nonstop motor, known as a great culture and team guy. He's going to have a huge market. Hayden Winks of Underdog posted about Crosby's contract. Crosby's contract is extremely tradable.

Starting point is 00:04:26 only $5 million dead on the Raiders side. The inheriting team has $30 million guaranteed in 2026, which is no problem. The rest of the contract is just $28 million team options. And if you're wondering, his 2027 money gets guaranteed this offseason, but that is still manageable for a guy of his talent level. So what is it going to cost? Huge market, all these great things. You're checking a bunch of boxes.

Starting point is 00:04:53 Well, Jay Glazer told Yahoo Sports on Radio Row that Crosby would cost, quote, probably more than Micah, unquote. And he's talking about, of course, Micah Parsons. Micah Parsons was traded to Green Bay. Green Bay dealt Kenny Clark, pro bowl football player, and two first round picks. A first round pick in 26, first round pick in 27. That was the deal. Kenny Clark and two first round picks. Now, the Patriots, I don't think you're in a position to trade a veteran.

Starting point is 00:05:23 player as part of a picks package. You're trying to keep as many good players as you can on this roster right now. So what was the value of Kenny Clark would be the question? If Green Bay put Kenny Clark on the trade block last year and did not use him in this Michael Parsons trade, what would they have received in return? What, maybe a third round pick, fourth round pick? That would be my guess. So if Jay Glazer's right, if he's right, if you're the Patriots, you would have to give up

Starting point is 00:05:53 more than two first round picks and let's say a fourth round pick. So you're dealing, I would say, two first round picks and likely a second round pick. And I am here to tell you, as much as I love Crosby and think he would be a great fit, I love him. I am not giving up two first round picks. I am drawing the line. The edge market is a need, but something else about the edge market. Well, the edge position is a need.

Starting point is 00:06:21 The edge market is strong. The edge market is very strong. You want to look at some of these free agent edge players that will be out there? Trey Hendrickson, Addafe O'A, Jalen Phillips, Boye-Mafay, Draymont Jones. Those are just five names of defensive edges that are free agents this offseason. There are as many as 10 to 15 guys that you could write down and say are, interesting names for the Patriots. So the edge market free agency is actually pretty strong at the edge position.

Starting point is 00:06:59 Not only is free agency deep at edge, the draft is deep at edge. I mean, you look at the draft. Daniel Jeremiah of the NFL network, he posted this recently. If you need an edge rusher, this is a good draft to double up. The depth of the class is impressive. I've got 10 guys worthy of a spot in the top 50. There's another layer of traitsy players beyond that group. Daniel Jeremiah is respected as one of the best draft pundits that we have.

Starting point is 00:07:31 And when he looks at his rankings, he has 10 defensive ends, 10 edge rushers who are in his top 50. So you've got a deeper free agency class at edge. you've got a deeper draft class at edge. And so when you start to look at your options, you have options if you're the Patriots. And ultimately the question is this. You have Max Crosby, great player, no doubt. He would help your football team.

Starting point is 00:08:04 He would make your defense that much better. He along with Milton Williams and Christian Barmore, I mean, you're talking about a defensive line that is going to cause migraines. There's no doubt Max Crosby's a real. really good player. There's no doubt that he would help your team exponentially in 2026. But here is the question that you have to ask. And the question that I sit there and ask myself, would you rather have Max Crosby or would you rather have a free agent, let's say

Starting point is 00:08:36 Boye-Mafé, would you rather have Boyer-Mafé and a draft pick to go along with future picks. Would you rather have Boy A. Mafé in your two first round picks plus another pick than just having Max Crosby as good as Crosby is? Does he make up that difference? Is Crosby worth Boyer Mafe are one of those free agents I name in those picks that you're going to give up, including two first rounders? I think that price would be too steep. If you want sustained success, if you're the Patriots, you have to draft and develop. That is the main pathway. way to be good for the next seven, eight years. Draft and develop.

Starting point is 00:09:22 And yes, you would address your big need at edge and have an edge 1A, quote unquote, but you've just made it tougher to find a true alpha wide receiver. You've made it tougher to find a right tackle of the future. You've made it tougher to find a really good talent at a need that you have by making that type of trade. Now, I'm open. I am open for business. If we're talking about one first round pick plus another pick or two,

Starting point is 00:09:54 I will have that conversation with the Raiders. But if I hear two first round picks, I'm out. I am not giving up two first round picks. Michael Parsons was two years younger at the time, and it's two years younger than Crosby. I don't want to be Washington. I don't want to be bailing on a bunch of draft picks and chasing a championship when inevitably I'm going to end up

Starting point is 00:10:17 being short, and in the long term, I kneecapped myself. Love Max Crosby. I believe he would be a great addition, but I am not going to pay a King's ransom, not at this particular time, not with this edge market, not with this edge draft, and not with the other needs that I have. If you want to bring that price down and be a little bit more reasonable, I'll talk. For the last few months, many have been saying Caleb on Chase, is as good as gone.

Starting point is 00:10:50 But I think we should pump the brakes a bit on that. Coming up next, this is Lockdown Patriots, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. Next season doesn't have to take over your life. This year, TurboTax is making it easier than ever to just hand things off and move on with your day. With TurboTax full service, you can have your taxes done for you

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Starting point is 00:12:14 Buck in a quarter a week. Go to lockdown patriots. com or check the link in the show notes to learn more. Also, don't forget to help a brother out, help a podcast out. If you're watching on YouTube, click that thumbs up, give us a like. And I want to know, do you agree or disagree with the idea of trading for Max Crosby? If it costs you two first round picks and more, would you be willing to make that type of deal? I think that's too much.

Starting point is 00:12:38 I think that's too much. Agree or disagree, don't forget to comment and don't forget to subscribe. Caleb on Chase on, let's get this out of the way. Caleb on Chase on is going to get paid. Now is he going to get paid paid? I think that's a little bit of a question mark. He's going to get money. But I think some of this conversation around Caleb-on-Cha-Lawn this year,

Starting point is 00:13:02 some of this conversation was about Chase on getting the bag. Now, it depends on what your definition of the bag is. Is he going to be paid at the top of the edge market? I don't think so. Again, we'll get into why. But he is going to get money. He is going to get paid a decent amount. He just had his best year in the NFL.

Starting point is 00:13:21 He's a former first rounder. He has first round talent. But I would not be surprised if he stays in New England. I think it's almost become a fait accompli that Kalevon Chase-on will not be a Patriot in 2026. I'm not guaranteeing you that he will be on the team. But I wouldn't be surprised if he stays. And I also don't think he's going to get as much money as other people do. We just talked about it.

Starting point is 00:13:46 Think about the conversation we just had when you're looking at the idea of acquiring Max Crosby. Same position as Caleb-on-Chesa on. And so if you're a team and you want an edge, if you need an edge, you could trade for Max Crosby. You could go to free agency and sign Trey Hendrickson on a short-term deal. You can go out and get guys who are well under 30 like Adafay O'A, Jalen Phillips, Boye-A-Mafay. You can look at second tier guys, Draymont Jones. You can look at, you know,

Starting point is 00:14:18 Khalil Mack if he stays around. You can look at Joey Bosa. There's a number of different dudes, Jadavia and Clowny. And all of those guys have been at different levels of productivity in 2025, but they all, they all did something. And most of them did many things for their teams.

Starting point is 00:14:37 So if you're looking for an edge, where does Calebon Chase-on get slotted in your peccat? order if you're a team that needs that position. You're going to have Max Crosby ahead of him. You're going to have Trey Hendrickson ahead of him. You probably will have Adafay O'A, Adafay O'A, Jalen Phillips, probably Boye-Moffay. Maybe Boye Mafe is close to Caleb-on, but you'd probably have Boye-Mafay ahead of him. I mean, you look at the amount of names in the free agency class. I don't think it's something where you say to yourself, Oh, yeah, you know, there's no doubt that Kalevon Chase on is going to be a top tier option for most teams. I just, I really don't see that given the depth of the free agency class.

Starting point is 00:15:30 I just don't see that. And then also we just talked about the draft, right, the available talent. The free agency class is deeper than usual. Yes, some guys will stay. Adafé OA might stay. I don't think there's much of a chance that, you know, Trey Hendrickson stays in Cincinnati given the relationship between those two sides. But you will have free agents that walk into free agency that are seen as higher caliber

Starting point is 00:16:04 players than chase on at the same position. You know, if just five or six of those 10 to 15 guys move, that's critical. How many teams need an edge? How many teams want to spend money on an edge? How many teams will look at this draft and say, hey, you know what? The draft is deep. So instead of going out there and signing Caleb on Chase on, a guy who really had his best year in New England, and maybe that's a New England thing, maybe he just connected

Starting point is 00:16:35 with the coaches. Maybe we're not going to get that same guy in 2020. You could also argue that Kalevon Chason towards the end of the year, he started to run out of gas. Now, in the playoffs, he was much, much better. Super Bowl, not so much. But how many teams look at Chason as a true legitimate number one defensive end? I still think he's mostly a two. I mean, if you could have Max Crosby and Klaven Chason, that seems right to me.

Starting point is 00:17:06 So how many teams see him as a premier number one? one guy on the edge. How many of those teams need an edge? How many of those teams will be willing to pay for an edge? How many of those teams will look and say, I'd rather pay that guy instead of Chason to be my edge? And how many of those teams will be looking at the draft and say, forget about that. I'm going to draft my edge in the first or second round because I believe that guy almost immediately will be better than Cey LeVan Cheson. We'll give us more production than Chase-on will give us. The draft, the owners know it, I know it, you know it, the American people know it.

Starting point is 00:17:46 The NFL draft is cost-effective, my friends. And so when you start to truly break it down, when you look at the options at free agency, you look at the options in the draft, you look at teams that already have one or two edges, are they willing to take that big swing? Are they willing to pay Caleb on Chase-on what he's going to ask for? And if you're wondering, Spotrack, the projected money for Chase-on's contract is $8.9 million a year. Let's just say $9 million a year. So number one, I don't think the Patriots would be scared off, quote-unquote, by $9 million a year for Chase-on.

Starting point is 00:18:26 If that is truly going to be where he projects, and that's where he pretty much ends up, if he ends up at around $9, $10 million, I don't think the Patriots will be scared away by that figure. Now, if Chasong goes above that, if Chasin gets into the $15 million per year category, then yes, I think the Patriots walk away. But given the depth of the options and given the teams that might look at Chason as a guy that they really want to bring in. And let's not forget this. Caleb on Chason doesn't want to play for every team in the NFL. Now, of course, he'll go to the highest bidder, but he just went to the Super Bowl. And I would have to imagine he loves the idea of playing for a team that will pay him and also have a good chance of winning football games.

Starting point is 00:19:21 And some teams aren't even in the market because they're rebuilding. They're not going to be looking at a K-Lavon-Cha-Lay-San. So truly, how many options does Caleb-on-Chaison have and how many options did those teams have given the depth of free agency in the draft? I think the Patriots can easily look at that and say, 9, 10 million, sure. It's giving a signing bonus. 10 million a year, not terrible.

Starting point is 00:19:47 He's going to be productive. I don't think the Patriots would look at him as their number one guy. I think he would be brought in and say, yes, that's somebody who can play at a pretty high level, but we're going to have to lower some of his snaps. You're going to handle the, you know, Harold Landry thing, but I just, I'm not guaranteeing that Chase-on is back, but I think some people got ahead of themselves writing the story that,

Starting point is 00:20:17 oh, Chase-on's just going to get big-time money this off-season and making it sound like there's no chance to Patriots bring him back. His market might not be as hot as some might have thought, and it doesn't really have everything to do with Chase-on himself. Supply and demand, baby. Old school. Supply and demand. Coming up, David and Joku is available this offseason and could be an interesting option for the Pats

Starting point is 00:20:45 as they try to tweak their tight end room. This is Lockdown Patriots, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. Ever wanted to experience the NBA Finals live and in person? Fandul is giving you the chance to turn that dream into reality with their NBA sweepstakes. how it works. Use your profit boost on any NBA future and you'll automatically be entered for a shot to win an NBA finals trip for two. That's right. Flights, tickets,

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Starting point is 00:21:52 Play your game with Fandul, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. Don't forget to like, comment, and sub. All right. Tight end. Could be a sneaky need. I don't even know if it's a sneaky need anymore because a lot of people like myself are now talking about it. Well, you know, Austin Hooper is a free agent, 31, 32 years old. Hunter Henry is 31 years old, just turned 31 in December.

Starting point is 00:22:21 The Patriots, if you go back to the 2025 draft, one of the questions was, will they draft a younger tight end to develop that guy? Tight end was a pretty deep position in the 2025 draft. The Patriots did not draft a tight end. They brought in a couple of UDFAs, as we know, but those guys didn't really make much of a difference at all. And I just, I don't think the Patriots want to go into 26 with their tight end slash fullback room being Hunter Henry,

Starting point is 00:22:49 Austin Hooper and Jack Westover with all due respect. I think they want to upgrade at least one, if not two of those spots. And so it begs the question, a guy like David and Joku, could he be that piece? Maybe not as your number one tight end. maybe you still want to stick with Hunter Henry, the chemistry he has with Drake May, great for the culture, great fit for the team,

Starting point is 00:23:10 was productive this year. But could Injoku be your second tight end? Could he be your upgrade over Hooper? David Injoku, to me, he's a very interesting piece, super athletic, just a different level of athlete than you see from Hunter Henry or Austin Hooper or Jack Westover,

Starting point is 00:23:33 different kind of athlete. he's a highly movable tight end. He can do a lot of different things. You can move him around the line of scrimmage. You can do a lot of different things if you're Josh McDaniels with Injoku. And I think in Joku's career has been negatively impacted, probably significantly, because he played in Cleveland and because he's had to deal with a bunch of different quarterbacks and just a mess.

Starting point is 00:24:03 We've seen the mess. play out in Cleveland. We know what the deal is. And so if David and Joku had a steady, good quarterback for his entire Brown's career, who knows what his resume would look like? And I would argue if I were In Joku's agent trying to get him the best deal possible, I'd say, look at 2023. 23 was in Joku's best season. And it just so happened to be one of the best seasons the Browns have had in quite some time. And when you look at what Injoku did that year, 81 catches, 882 yards and six touchdowns.

Starting point is 00:24:43 He was a pro bowler in 2023. Now, he wasn't like a fake pro bowler. Again, if you're catching more than 80 passes and you have almost 900 yards and six touchdowns at the tight end position, that's a very productive year. Not as productive as some of the best, right? Not as as a Travis Kelsey or Rob Grunkowski in their day.

Starting point is 00:25:02 or a Sam LaPorter when he's healthy and plays a full season. But 80 catches, almost 900 yards, six touchdowns, that's good production. And so if you look at this and you also remember, hey man, he's coming from the Browns. Where did Mike Vrable spend his 2024 with Cleveland? And we know we've been through this before. Teams love signing guys that they know that they are comfortable. with. It's a major reason why the Pats had a very good offseason in 25. They brought in a bunch of dudes that played for a number of coaches on this staff in past

Starting point is 00:25:42 years. Stefan Diggs obviously had his link with Todd Downing. Mack Hollins had his link with Josh McDaniels and we could go on and on and on. A bunch of the guys that they brought in had connections to this coaching staff. And with Injoku playing in Cleveland when Frable was there, within Joku playing in Cleveland when quarterback's coach Asht Grant was there, you can start connecting these dots. I'd imagine this Patriots coaching staff would have a lot of background to work with when looking at Injoku.

Starting point is 00:26:23 And if they're comfortable with David and Joku, I am comfortable with David and Joku. Now, with all of that said, I would not have Injoku as option A. He's not my plan A at tight end. Nope. Now, if you tell me he's your plan C or plan D, I'd be fine with that. The reality of an offseason is that you're not going to land every single top target. It's just not going to happen.

Starting point is 00:26:54 And sometimes that works out for the best, i.e., getting Stefan Diggs instead of Chris Godwin, last year in free agency. That worked out better for you. But you're not always going to get your top guy. So for example, if the Patriots top guy, top target is Kyle Pitts and Pitt stays in Atlanta or goes somewhere else, then you slide on down to Plan B. Plan B doesn't work.

Starting point is 00:27:17 What's Plan C? So if David In Joku is Plan C or D, I'd be in on that. I'd absolutely be in on that. Now, why is he not Plan A? well, because he turns 30 years old in July, so he's not much younger than Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper, and I would like to get younger at that position.

Starting point is 00:27:35 And when you look at the games played, he played 11 games in 2024, he played 12 games this past season. So it's not like, you know, you're looking at 23 games combined out of a possible 34 the prior two seasons, which means you might be able to get him cheaper, but he wouldn't be my plan A.

Starting point is 00:27:56 He's older and he's been banged up a decent amount the past couple of years. But if you're telling me, he's a fallback, if he's Plan C, plan D, I'm in. All right, that wraps up this edition of Lockdown Patriots. Thank you for making us your first listen and for being an everydayer. Reach out to me on Twitter at Nick C. Radio. And don't forget to throw a comment in on the YouTube channel, hit that like button and subscribe. We're about 80 subscribers away from hitting our 9,000 subscription goal. If you're looking for a gift for someone, make it easy.

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Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - No-Brainer?: Maxx Crosby And Patriots Destined For Each Other?

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