Raiders’ Maxx Crosby holds key to unlocking 49ers’ Super Bowl aspirations

The 49ers did some admirable work this offseason, specifically at wide receiver, where the free agent signings of veterans Mike Evans and Christian Kirk and the drafting of De’Zhaun Stribling added proven production and firepower to that room.

They also added defensive lineman Osa Odighizuwa and linebacker Dre Greenlaw to a group that ranked 13th in the NFL in points given up per game at 21.8 last season.

All that, coupled with what they hope are healthy seasons from Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, George Kittle and Brock Purdy — all of whom missed significant-to-considerable time last year with injuries — will put the 49ers in the thick of the NFC West battle with the Seahawks and Rams.

But it might not have been enough to close the gap on the Seahawks, the defending Super Bowl champions, or keep up with the Rams, who went on a rampage this offseason by adding all-world edge rusher Myles Garrett and All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie.

And unless they make up the necessary ground, the Super Bowl window they built for themselves is in danger of closing without adding another Lombardi Trophy.

Imagine the regret that will cause when they look back at this period of franchise history, knowing they failed to maximize a core group of players as good as any in the NFL.

It doesn’t have to be that way, though.

In fact, there is a blockbuster move to be made that would edge them closer to the Rams.

No, it’s not beefing up at safety, where legitimate questions remain. It isn’t the strongest room in the league, but they won’t be the difference between the 49ers falling short of their ultimate goals.

And it’s not strengthening their offensive line. Kyle Shanahan has always shown he can scheme around that group’s deficiencies.

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The 49ers have to think bigger than that.

It involves a team that is strategically building for the future and is wide open to the idea of maximizing a valuable asset, and a pass rusher who would team with Bosa to create one of the NFL’s most formidable one-two punches.

The 49ers need to do what it takes to bring Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby back to the Bay Area, where his NFL journey began in 2019 when the Silver and Black still called Oakland home.

This is not some unrealistic pipe dream, either.

The same reasons that the Raiders traded Crosby to the Ravens in March are still in place.

The 28-year-old Crosby still has a handful of peak years remaining. But the Raiders’ current rebuild doesn’t realistically line up with that window. He longs to play in meaningful games in December and beyond, even if it means leaving the only franchise he’s ever known.

The Raiders believe a bright future is ahead, with the tandem of new coach Klint Kubiak and promising young quarterback Fernando Mendoza leading the way. But leveraging that partnership requires a long-range approach to roster building.

Trading Crosby would certainly cause short-term pain. But if they successfully cash in on the assets they get in return, they will not only expedite their rebuild but also greatly enhance it.

That was the motivation when they traded Crosby to the Ravens, only for Baltimore to get cold feet over concerns with Crosby’s knee upon further inspection. The Ravens nixed the deal as a result.

But don’t think for a minute the Raiders wouldn’t revisit a Crosby trade if the right offer was made.

Multiple league sources have told The California Post that the framework for a suitable offer would consist of a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick and second-year edge rusher Mykel Williams.

It’s an offer the 49ers would be wise to consider making. And situated with a league-leading $72,133,420 of cap space, they could easily absorb Crosby’s $30 million base salary for 2026.

As for Crosby’s knee, all signs point to him being ready to roll in training camp. In the limited work he did during OTAs and minicamp, he looked well on his way to a full recovery.

And not that he needs any more reason to be motivated, the always-energetic Crosby has some scores to settle after the Ravens hung him out to dry by publicly pulling out of the trade and raising questions about his long-range viability.

The 49ers have time to monitor Crosby’s health. If he returns to terrorizing Raiders’ practices during training camp, he’ll put all concerns to rest.

When he does, the Raiders will be flooded with calls from interested teams.

The 49ers need to be one of them.