Bond Forged In Oakland, Strengthend in Vegas for Raiders Trio

By Peter Mann

The much-travelled Raiders left Oakland for Las Vegas at the beginning of 2020, leaving behind the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum home that they’d lauded over for more than two decades prior.

Now, following the departure of 30-year-old kicker, Daniel Carlson, just three players remain of that era of silver & black football, just punter AJ Cole, offensive tackle Kolton Miller, and the Raiders’ franchise MVP, and defensive end, Maxx Crosby.

A bond that was formed in the cauldron of Oakland, through the better part of a decade, to a brotherhood now in Las Vegas, and which encompasses a combined, 340 games heading into the 2026 regular season, the trio of Cole, Miller, and Crosby have been through it all with the Raider Nation.

During this time though, there’s only been the one playoff shot, the Raiders losing out in the Wild Card game, 19-26, to Cincinnati Bengals in 2021, whilst their divisional best in the AFC West has been second place on three occasions, in 2020, 2021, and 2023, with the 2021 season being their only winning record (10-7) of the past decade.

Although the trio deserve a good playoff shot, it’s the younger of them, Maxx Crosby, who could well be the one that catapults the Raiders, alongside several, younger newcomers to the Nation in quarterback Fernando Mendoza, running back Mike Washington Jnr, and wide receiver Malik Benson, among others.

But who are the three that now remain in silver & black?

Franchise MVP & Defensive End: Maxx Crosby

At 29-years-old, Michigan-born Crosby came through the ranks of the Eastern Michigan Eagles, with whom he is now also their assistant general manager; whilst at Eastern Michigan he was selected in the first-team All-MAC in both 2017 and 2018, going on to be inducted into the Ring of Honor in ’23, whilst their playing field is named in his honour following a million-dollar donation to the school the following year.

Crosby was a fourth-round draft pick by the Raiders in 2019 and his since made 111 appearances over the past seven seasons, having made his debut against divisional rivals, Denver Broncos (won 24-16), in the 2019 season opener.

A five-time pro bowler, Crosby has registered 439 tackles throughout his Raiders career to date, 69.5 sacks, 11 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries, 29 pass deflections, and an interception; most of that Raiders goes either through, or round him…

During the recent, preseason, come-from-behind success, against the hosting Houston Texans, Crosby spoke pitch-side with ESPN host and reporter, Laura Rutledge, discussing drafter quarterback Fernando Mendoza, defensive coordinator Rob Leonard, and head coach, Klint Kubiak.

For purposes here however, focus was taken towards the thoughts of one of the leagues’ best defenders, thoughts on (extra) motivation following offseason dramas, and how the Raiders defense plays to Crosby’s own standards (of excellence).

Speaking of his increased motivation, more so after a trade to Baltimore Ravens failed to materialise, Crosby told Rutledge that; “I love it, you know it’s all part of the story and that’s life, you know what I mean.

“It’s how you respond to things. The same thing as the Fernando situation, you go big, you go out there, go get some points on the board, it’s the same thing.

“I work every single day to be the best version of myself; I don’t complain, there’s going to be ups and downs, there’s going to be things that you can’t anticipate but it’s all about how you respond.

“I’ve gone through a lot of adversity in my life and every time I go through big adversity, I come out better every single time so I know I’m excited, I know I’m healthy, and I can’t wait to get out there and put on a show.”

The latter point of Crosby’s above quote relates to his 2025 season finishing early, he being injured in the week sixteen regular season loss to, Houston Texans, having initially injuring his knee weeks earlier, in the loss at Kansas City Chiefs.

Like the Raiders though, and with Crosby on of the few remaining, dying embers of the Oakland era, the Michigan-native portrays in his defensive prowess what his employers instil in their overall mantra.

Crosby’s defensive standards are a commitment to excellence, and he added on this point that; “I think it really comes down to style of play.

“You know, what you put on the film; there’s x’s and o’s and things you can draw, but ultimately it comes down to guys wanting it more than the other dude.

“So, as a defense, you’ve got to have eleven guys hunting from start to finish and you’ve got to be able to literally go to a point where you feel your heart’s going to stop, and then take another step, then take another snap, and they go out there and make the play and just go out there and play for each other.

“So, we’ve got a lot of work to do but I’m super excited how we’re coming together.”

Although Crosby had that failed trade to the Ravens this past offseason, he did sign a three-year, $106.5 million, three-year contract extension, in March last year; guaranteed $91.5 million, the deal at the time was the highest afforded a non-quarterback.

With kicker Daniel Carlson no longer on the Raiders books, they going with Matt Gay, previously with Washington Commanders and San Francisco 49ers last season, and the ‘Tokyo Toe,’ Kansei Matsuzawa, an undrafted free agent, defensive stalwart, Crosby, is joined in the long-term Raiders books with AJ Cole, and Kolton Miller.

Punter, AJ Cole

Georgia-native, AJ Cole, was undrafted in the 2019 draft, going on to be picked up by the then, Oakland Raiders having previously turned out for the North Carolina State Wolfpack.

Whilst hunting with the Wolfpack, Cole, during his four-year tenure, registered the third most points in program history, form which he carried into his NFL career with the Raiders, where he’s registered high in most yards per punt.

From his Raiders debut, in the same as Crosby’s, against the Broncos, Cole has appeared in seven seasons to date in a silver & black jersey.

Cole has made 118 appearances for the franchise, from which he’s accumulated 447 punts, over 21,605yds, of which his longest was 83yds during the 2023 season

In May last year Cole agreed a new, four-year contract extension with the Raiders, putting him under contract at the Allegiant Stadium through 2029, and which guaranteed him $11 million; the extension also made Cole the league’s highest-paid punter.

Offensive Tackle, Kolton Miller

Miller, like teammate Cole, turns 31 later this year, and is the longest-serving player currently on the Raiders roster with eight, full seasons under his belt; the California-native played for the UCLA Bruins and was a first round draft pick for the Raiders in 2018, going on to make 113 appearances in silver & black.

During his college career with the Bruins, Miller would appear as both a right or left tackle, starting all thirteen games in the 2017 season, he being named in the second team All-Pac-12 conference, bringing that strength and nous to the Raiders following his pick in 2018.

Despite making those 113 appearances, having debuted in the Minday Night Football loss to Los Angeles Rams (13-33), at the Oakland Coliseum, in September ’18, Miller could have added a handful more but for injury last season.

During the Raiders’ week four loss to Chicago Bears (24-25), the offensive tackle suffered a hairline fracture and high ankle sprain after being hit by Bears lineman, Tanoh Kpassagnon, who was at the time attempting a tackle on running back Ashton Jeanty.

Prior to the 2025 season, Miller had also signed a contract extension, a three-year deal keeping him in silver & black through the 2028 season, and guaranteeing him $42.5 million.

The Season Ahead

Having finished the last four seasons with losing records, the Raiders, under HC Klint Kubiak and assistant HC Mike McCoy et al, will certainly be looking for at least a winning record, and if a spot in the playoffs materialises, all the better.

They’ll begin at their Allegiant Stadium home on 13 September, with the visit of Miami Dolphins, before seeing out the month with road games against Los Angeles Chargers (20 September) and New Orleans Saints (27 September).

October will see the silver & black oppose Kansas City Chiefs (home, 4/10), New England Patriots (away, 11/10), Buffalo Bills (home, 18/10), and Los Angeles Rams (home, 25/10), before November’s games takes them to their bye week, facing New York Jets (away, 1/11), San Francisco 49ers (away, 8/11), Seattle Seahawks (home, 15/11), Denver Broncos (away. 22/11), and Cleveland Browns (away. 29/11).

As for the winter games, either side of Christmas and New Year, through December and January, Kubiak et al will close out the regular season opposing that of Loas Angeles Chargers (home, 13/12), Denver Broncos (home, 20/12), Tennessee Titans (home, 27/12), before finishing with road games at Arizona Cardinals (away, 3/1), and Kansas City Chiefs (away, 9or10/1).

PETER MANN

NFL ANALYST

PETER IS A LIFELONG SPORTS FAN, JOURNALIST AND AUTHOR BASED IN COUNTY DURHAM. HE HAS FOLLOWED THE NFL AND THE RAIDERS SINCE THE 1980s, AND LOVES BOTH SPORTS AND FAMILY HISTORY. PETER HAS A DEGREE IN SPORT & EXERCISE PSYCHOLOGY, AND CAN BE FOUND ON TWITTER @petermannwriter

 
Rated 5 out of 5