Maxx Crosby, the talented edge rusher for the Las Vegas Raiders, made quite an impression during Thursday’s joint practice with the San Francisco 49ers. After making a tackle for loss, Crosby wasted no time in seeking out 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan to exchange some words. This interaction was significant because the 49ers, like many other teams, had the opportunity to draft Crosby in 2019 but passed on him multiple times before he was eventually selected by the Raiders in the fourth round.
The 49ers’ decision to pass on Crosby is understandable, considering they used their first-round pick on edge rusher Nick Bosa, who went on to win the defensive player of the year award last season. Additionally, the 49ers drafted Deebo Samuel in the second round and Jalen Hurd in the third round, although Hurd has yet to play in a regular-season game.
However, Shanahan expressed some regret about how the team treated Crosby during the pre-draft process. Defensive line coach Kris Kocurek, who was conducting the interview, took an aggressive approach in questioning Crosby. Shanahan admitted that they were “kind of jerks” to Crosby during the interview and praised him as one of the coolest and best players in the league.
Shanahan explained that Crosby’s interview was one of the first for Kocurek, who wanted to gauge how prospects responded to confrontation. At one point, General Manager John Lynch had to intervene and signal Kocurek to dial it back. Despite the intense questioning, Crosby remained unfazed and handled the situation with composure.
Crosby, on the other hand, hasn’t forgotten the interview and carries the scars from that experience. He revealed that he feels like every team he interviewed with didn’t take him seriously, although he chose not to name any specific teams.
The encounter between Crosby and Shanahan after Thursday’s practice serves as a reminder of the missed opportunity for the 49ers and the resilience of Crosby. While the 49ers have found success with their draft picks, it’s clear that Crosby has used the perceived snub as motivation to prove himself in the league.
As the Raiders and 49ers continue their joint practices, it will be interesting to see if Crosby’s performance against his almost-team will further fuel his determination to succeed.
How did Maxx Crosby’s interaction with Kyle Shanahan after the joint practice highlight the significance of the 49ers passing on him in the draft?
Maxx Crosby, the talented edge rusher for the Las Vegas Raiders, made quite the statement during Thursday’s joint practice with the San Francisco 49ers. After an impressive tackle for loss, Crosby wasted no time seeking out 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan to exchange some choice words. This interaction holds significance because the 49ers had the chance to draft Crosby in 2019 but passed on him multiple times before he was eventually selected by the Raiders in the fourth round.
The 49ers’ decision may be understandable considering they used their first-round pick on edge rusher Nick Bosa, who went on to win the defensive player of the year award last season. Additionally, the 49ers drafted Deebo Samuel in the second round and Jalen Hurd in the third round, although Hurd has yet to play in a regular-season game.
However, Shanahan expressed some regret regarding how the team treated Crosby during the pre-draft process. Defensive line coach Kris Kocurek, who conducted the interview, took an aggressive approach in questioning Crosby. Shanahan admitted that they were “kind of jerks” to Crosby during the interview but praised him as one of the coolest and best players in the league.
Shanahan explained that Crosby’s interview was one of the first for Kocurek, who wanted to evaluate how prospects responded to confrontation. General Manager John Lynch had to step in and signal Kocurek to dial it back. Despite the intense questioning, Crosby remained composed and unfazed.
Crosby, on the other hand, hasn’t forgotten the interview and carries the emotional scars from that experience. He revealed that he feels like every team he interviewed with didn’t take him seriously but chose not to name any specific teams.
The encounter between Crosby and Shanahan after Thursday’s practice serves as a reminder of the missed opportunity for the 49ers and the resilience of Crosby. While the 49ers have found success with their draft picks, it’s clear that Crosby has used the perceived snub as motivation to prove himself in the league.
As the Raiders and 49ers continue their joint practices, it will be intriguing to see if Crosby’s performance against the team that passed on him will further fuel his determination to succeed.
It’s always tough when you see talent slip through your fingers.