49ers insider says Raiders owner is main holdup to Maxx Crosby blockbuster trade

George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers and Maxx Crosby of the Las Vegas Raiders meet after the 49ers beat the Raiders 38-17 at Levi's Stadium on Nov. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) With the NFL trade deadline just hours away, one San Francisco 49ers insider said he still believes the 49ers' top target is still Maxx Crosby - and revealed what the holdup for a deal likely is.San Francisco Standard columnist Tim Kawakami has been adamant for months that the 49ers would be most interested in trading for the star defensive end from the Las Vegas Raiders. He first wrote about the possibility after the 49ers were knocked out of last season's playoffs and even made a bold prediction of an offseason trade for Crosby all the way back in February.The Raiders were clearly willing to move Crosby and agreed to trade him to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for two first-round picks. But the Ravens ultimately killed the deal when the Ravens said Crosby failed his physical. Other teams reportedly expressed interest in a trade after that move, with ESPN reporting the Rams led the pack, but Crosby didn't want a trade in the offseason. Things could be different now, though. The Raiders started the season 3-0 but have fallen to 4-5 since and, while clearly improved, don't look like a Super Bowl contender. That's where the 49ers fit in. They were among the teams interested in a Crosby trade after the Baltimore deal fell apart, and Kawakami continues to say the interest from the 49ers remains very high in a deal. On the "49ers Plus Minus" podcast he co-hosts with the Athletic reporter Matt Barrows, Kawakami discussed the 49ers' trade plans at length."If [the 49ers] are going to trade a first- or second-round pick, it's going to be for a defensive end - I don't think it's going to be receiver, I definitely don't think it's going to be for a cornerback," Kawakami said. "... I think, if you're going to go get a starter who's going to impact games, you know, right away, it's going to be a defensive end."Barrows pointed out the struggles the 49ers have had to rush the opposing quarterbacks - even star Nick Bosa doesn't have a sack in the three games he's been healthy for so far this year. He also noticed how many 49ers players and staffers showed Crosby love after the game and noted the connection between Crosby and 49ers defensive line coach Kris Kocurek. But Kawakami, the insider who has been pushing the "Crosby to the 49ers" trade harder than anyone, is now saying he doesn't expect a trade to happen in time for this season's Super Bowl run. His change of tune even caught Barrows off-guard, leading Barrows to directly ask why Kawakami backed off on a deal."I don't think [Raiders owner] Mark Davis is trading Maxx Crosby to the 49ers," Kawakami said. "Most of what I've been saying is that's who the 49ers want. I am not coming off of that. My second [point] has been that I think Crosby would certainly be happy with a trade to the 49ers. I don't think there's anything denying that, and we saw it on the field."Kawakami said those points and the fact that the Raiders already made one trade agreement to deal Crosby are why he has been so adamant about the possibility. He even said the 49ers would be willing to part with a top draft pick to land Crosby. But in his estimation, the Raiders owner (and perhaps the longstanding rivalry between the former Bay Area rivals) is the biggest reason why any deal isn't happening."This [49ers] locker room really has circled Maxx Crosby as someone they think would fit," Kawakami said. "The same way they did Christian McCaffrey, the same way they did getting [DeForest] Buckner back - obviously that's a no-brainer - but they do that sometimes. Like, ‘This is a guy that would really fit,' and it's Maxx Crosby. "That's why I'm always thinking about him, but that does not mean that Mark Davis has to agree with it. And I don't think Mark Davis is trading Crosby to the 49ers."The NFL trade deadline is 1 p.m. Pacific on Tuesday.More 49ers- NFL says Fred Warner isn't actually on verge of suspension- The 49ers are 6-0, and the computers say it'll only get worse for everyone else- 49ers reporter accused of 'hugging' players in locker room- How a Bay Area high school landed 2 ex-49ers stars as coachesFor all of our Bay Area sports coverage, sign up for The Catch newsletter here.This article originally published at 49ers insider says Raiders owner is main holdup to Maxx Crosby blockbuster trade.