OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 15: Defensive end Maxx Crosby #98 of the Oakland Raiders celebrates after sacking quarterback Gardner Minshew II (not pictured) of the Jacksonville Jaguars during the second quarter at RingCentral Coliseum on December 15, 2019 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images)

Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby racked up ten sacks in his rookie season. Will he exceed that feat in 2020 or fall short?

Maxx Crosby was an absolute revelation for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2019 as he became one of the few bright spots on a struggling defense. The fourth round pick out of Eastern Michigan was one of the steals of the 2019 NFL Draft and had a legitimate case for the Defensive Rookie of the Year award. The award was given to 49ers DE Nick Bosa, likely due to San Francisco’s overall success but Crosby was a worthy candidate.

Crosby grew in to his role as the season progressed as he went from bit player to full-time starter in Week 8 and his numbers followed suit. After recording two sacks in the first eight weeks of the season, Crosby exploded with eight in the last eight games, including four against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 11. His 10 total sacks were good enough for 15th in the NFL and second among rookies with Jacksonville’s Josh Allen recording just a half-sack more.

His tackles for loss statistics ballooned around the same time as he recorded 12 of his 16 in the final eight weeks of the season. That total was good enough for 5th in the NFL and tied for most among rookies with the aforementioned Bosa.

By all statistical measures, Crosby became a dominant defensive end in the second half of the season and now we can look ahead in to what type of season he can have with a full offseason under his belt.

To put his rookie season in context, with the caveat that sacks became an official stat in 1982, only 35 players have recorded 10 or more sacks in their first year in the NFL. Tackles for loss only became a stat in 1999 and Crosby is one of only 12 players to have recorded 16 or more in their rookie seasons.

If Crosby was a top five pick then perhaps this production would have been more expected but his draft position makes it all the more remarkable. On the rookie sacks list, only 5 of those 35 players were selected in the 4th round or later and on the tackles for loss list, Crosby is the only non-first or second round pick. Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden truly found a diamond in the rough in the late rounds of the 2019 draft.

The question posed in the title of this article is whether or not Maxx Crosby can exceed 10 sacks in his sophomore season. We all know that sacks can be as much a product of fortune as hard work and skill so they are hard to predict but Crosby’s total passed the eye test as well.

If Crosby matches his 2019 total in 2020, he will become just the 28th player to record 20 or more sacks in their first two seasons. He would join the likes of Hall of Famers Reggie White, Derrick Thomas, and Bruce Smith along with several future Hall of Famers in Von Miller and JJ Watt to accomplish the feat.

So what will it take for Crosby to not just match but exceed his rookie totals? Aside from the obvious condition of health, the Raiders improving their defensive line would be the first step in helping Crosby do so. After his star turn in 2019, opposing offenses will begin to key in on Crosby by throwing double teams his way more often and chipping him with a RB.

If the Raiders are able to bring in a dominant defensive tackle either through the draft or free agency, or if youngsters Mo Hurst and PJ Hall take a leap, then teams will be forced to focus on the interior pass rush. Aside from an improvement at defensive tackle, a veteran pass rusher and improvement from Clelin Ferrell would have a similar effect to open things up for Crosby.

Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock have reiterated that improving the defense is a priority for the Raiders this offseason and any overall improvement will help Maxx Crosby and the rest of the defensive line boost their production.

We have seen what Crosby could do when surrounded by a less than stellar supporting cast and the smart money would be on him putting up even more impressive numbers in a better situation in 2020.

Prediction: Maxx Crosby will record MORE than 10 sacks in 2020