Around the NFL

June 14, 2020

Maxx Crosby

Raiders pass rusher talking tough

In the 2019 NFL Draft, the Raiders raised some eyebrows when they drafted defensive lineman Clelin Ferrell with the No. 4 overall pick. Thus far, the skeptics look right: Ferrell started all season, at least, but had a modest 4.5 sacks. Oakland made out much better with fourth-rounder Maxx Crosby.

Not that sacks are everything, but they count for a lot in defensive performance, and Crosby was a standout in that regard. He recorded 10 last season. That makes him one of just 17 rookies to reach that milestone in the last 20 years. Only 13 players in that span have recorded more than him in their first seasons. (In the table, 2019 rookies are in bold.)

ROOKIE SACKS, 2000-PRESENT
Year	Sacks	Player, Team	Pos
2011	14.0	Aldon Smith, S.F.	OLB
2002	13.0	Dwight Freeney, Ind.	DE
2018	12.0	Bradley Chubb, Den.	LB
2006	12.0	Mark Anderson, Chi.	DE
2003	12.0	Terrell Suggs, Balt.	OLB
2002	12.0	Julius Peppers, Car.	DE
2011	11.5	Von Miller, Den.	OLB
2009	11.0	Brian Orakpo, Wash.	OLB
2006	11.0	Kamerion Wimbley, Clev.	OLB
2000	11.0	Darren Howard, N.O.	DE
2019	10.5	Josh Allen, Jac.	DE
2016	10.5	Joey Bosa, S.D.	DE
2003	10.5	Kevin Williams, Minn.	DE
2019	10.0	Maxx Crosby, Oak.	DE
2010	10.0	Ndamukong Suh, Det.	DT
2009	10.0	Clay Matthews, G.B.	OLB
2005	10.0	Shawne Merriman, S.D.	OLB
2010	9.5	Carlos Dunlap, Cin.	DE
2000	9.5	Corey Simon, Phil.	DT
2019	9.0	Nick Bosa, S.F.	DE
2014	9.0	Aaron Donald, St.L.	DT
2004	9.0	Jared Allen, K.C.	DE
2001	9.0	Kendrell Bell, Pitt.	ILB
2017	8.5	Carl Lawson, Cin.	DE
2011	8.5	Jabaal Sheard, Clev.	DE
2006	8.5	Elvis Dumervil, Den.	DE
2001	8.5	Justin Smith, Cin.	DE
2000	8.5	Shaun Ellis, NYJ	DE
2016	8.0	Yannick Ngakoue, Jac.	DE
2015	8.0	Preston Smith, Wash.	DE
2013	8.0	Ziggy Ansah, Det.	DE
2012	8.0	Bruce Irvin, Sea.	DE
2006	8.0	Tamba Hali, K.C.	DE
2005	8.0	DeMarcus Ware, Dall.	OLB
2002	8.0	Carlos Hall, Tenn.	DE
2000	8.0	Brian Urlacher, Chi.	MLB
2019	7.5	Brian Burns, Car.	LB
2011	7.5	Adrian Clayborn, T.B.	DE
2011	7.5	Ryan Kerrigan, Wash.	OLB
2005	7.5	Leroy Hill, Sea.	OLB
2004	7.5	Will Smith, N.O.	DE
2019	7.0	Montez Sweat, Wash.	LB
2018	7.0	Darius Leonard, Ind.	LB
2017	7.0	T.J. Watt, Pitt.	OLB
2017	7.0	Myles Garrett, Clev.	DE
2016	7.0	Leonard Floyd, Chi.	OLB
2011	7.0	Sam Acho, Ariz.	OLB
2011	7.0	Karl Klug, Tenn.	DT
2002	7.0	Charles Grant, N.O.	DE
2002	6.5	Kalimba Edwards, Det.	DE
2002	6.5	John Henderson, Jac.	DT
2001	6.5	Andre Carter, S.F.	DE
2001	6.5	Aaron Schobel, Buff.	DE
2018	6.0	Sam Hubbard, Cin.	DE
2017	6.0	Takkarist McKinley, At.	DE
2016	6.0	DeForest Buckner, S.F.	DE
2012	6.0	Chandler Jones, N.E.	DE
2012	6.0	Whitney Mercilus, Hou.	OLB
2012	6.0	Derek Wolfe, Den.	DE
2011	6.0	Pernell McPhee, Balt.	DE
2011	6.0	Brooks Reed, Hou.	OLB
2007	6.0	Gaines Adams, T.B.	DE
2001	6.0	Derrick Burgess, Phil.	DE

Pretty good draft class, with Crosby one of five rookies to record at least 7 takedowns last year. And he's planning to keep things going this year, as the Raiders try to catch up with Super Bowl champion Kansas City.

"I was close a few times," Crosby said, recalling Oakland’s meetings with Kansas City. "It pissed me off pretty much. Pretty much every second after that game was over, both times, I was just mad."

Crosby -- and Ferrell, and everyone else on this defense -- have some work to do to get Oakland's pass rush going. The Raiders in the last four years have totalled just 101 sacks. That's worst in the league; 16 fewer than every other team.

TEAM SACKS, 2016-2019
Team	16	17	18	19	Total
Pittsburgh	38	56	52	54	200
Carolina	47	50	35	53	185
Minnesota	41	37	50	48	176
Arizona	48	37	49	40	174
New Orleans	30	42	49	51	172
Jacksonville	33	55	37	47	172
Washington	38	42	46	46	172
LA Rams	31	48	41	50	170
Tennessee	40	43	39	43	165
Green Bay	40	37	44	41	162
Chicago	37	42	50	32	161
Philadelphia	34	38	44	43	159
Denver	42	33	44	40	159
Kansas City	28	31	52	45	156
New England	34	42	30	47	153
Baltimore	31	41	43	37	152
Seattle	42	39	43	28	152
Dallas	36	38	39	39	152
San Francisco	33	30	37	48	148
Buffalo	39	27	36	44	146
LA Chargers	35	43	38	30	146
Tampa Bay	38	22	38	47	145
Cincinnati	33	41	34	31	139
Atlanta	34	39	37	28	138
Indianapolis	33	25	38	41	137
Houston	31	32	43	31	137
Cleveland	26	34	37	38	135
Detroit	26	35	43	28	132
NY Jets	27	28	39	35	129
NY Giants	35	27	30	36	128
Miami	33	30	31	23	117
Oakland	25	31	13	32	101

So for now, Crosby's words are just that. Oakland doesn't make our top 20 defenses, and it's hard to have a lot of confidence they'll turn things around this year.

But maybe, if those second-year guys can take another leap, they can at least move in the right direction.

--Andy Richardson

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