During the offseason, there was a ton of speculation that the San Francisco 49ers would make a play for Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby. This was especially true after the Los Angeles Rams traded for Myles Garrett, putting even more pressure on San Francisco to make a splash of their own.
Yet after Crosby failed a physical, thus blocking a trade that would've sent him to the Ravens, it seems that he has decided he wants to stay a Raider after all. That is, until recent stirrings in Las Vegas camp.
Now it seems the 49ers have another opening following a report that Crosby got into it with Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins. Apparently, the five-time Pro Bowler hit Cousins twice during practice, even though he was told not to, and Cousins ended up getting in his face and grabbing his jersey.
Though temperatures were raised, it was hardly a full-blown brawl or anything of that nature. Scuffles occur often in the NFL. Just last week Dre Greenlaw and Christian McCaffrey had a dustup of their own. It's to be expected with such a high-contact sport.
Raiders scuffle can only mean good things for future 49ers trade angle
Yet perhaps such an altercation could foreshadow more cracks in the armor of a team that has long been defined by their losing ways. The Raiders are still in the rebuilding process, and expectations are not all that high, especially with Cousins, a washed-up veteran, running the show while the first overall pick, Fernando Mendoza, watches from the sidelines.
It would've been great to see the 49ers pull the trigger on a blockbuster move earlier in the offseason, but now, it might work to their advantage that they held off. If Crosby expresses displeasure with his current situation, then it could give the red and gold even more leverage to pull off such a deal.
Given the fact that the Niners have already been crushed by the injury bug, it would certainly make sense to add more talent to the roster. On paper, the Niners should be competitive as it stands, but the rash of ailments in training camp have shown just how vulnerable they are. Kyle Shanahan was able to finish 12-5 despite injuries last season, but such success without key contributors feels more like the exception than the rule. If injuries persist the rest of this year, they may not be so lucky.
The 49ers may not even have to make the move until the trade deadline. The potential Cousins-Crosby rift could fester over time and could force Crosby to want out. If such a scenario comes to fruition, the 49ers can swoop in and add one of the best pass rushers in the game, giving their defense a major boost heading into the postseason.
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