Maxx Crosby has emerged as the most effective pass rusher in the NFL this season, while Kwity Paye’s performance has fallen sharply, according to data from Pro Football Focus. Crosby leads the league in pass rush win rate relative to how often he is double teamed. Paye, meanwhile, ranks at the bottom with the lowest pass rush win rate despite facing an average number of double teams.
The Raiders entered the season hoping Paye, a sixth-year veteran, would bounce back after a disappointing 2025. He made an immediate impact in the season opener, registering two sacks, four quarterback hits, and two tackles for loss. That performance suggested the Raiders’ decision to re-sign him was justified. Since then, however, Paye has largely disappeared from the stat sheets.
Crosby, by contrast, has continued to put up consistent pressure on quarterbacks. The contrast between the two edge rushers has been described as "night and day" by analysts. According to Shaun Newkirk, who shared PFF’s pass rush win rate and double team data on October 13, Crosby is at the top of the league when factoring in how often defenses double team him.
Paye’s struggles in pass rush win rate are a continuation of issues that plagued him last season. Many questioned the Raiders’ offseason decision to make him one of their top free agent signings given those problems. The hope was that Paye’s down year was an anomaly, but current numbers suggest last season might reflect his true level.
The data also includes Malcolm Koonce, another Raiders edge rusher who re-signed with the team on a one-year deal this offseason. Koonce ranks among the top pass rushers in the league according to this metric, reinforcing the strength of the Raiders’ defensive front aside from Paye.
The stark difference between Crosby and Paye stands out in a Raiders defense that had optimism about its pass rush depth heading into 2026. While Crosby’s continued dominance has become a highlight, Paye’s drop-off raises questions about the consistency of the Raiders’ edge rush corps.
The latest PFF figures confirm Crosby’s position as the league’s most effective pass rusher based on win rate and double team pressure, while Paye remains at the opposite end of the spectrum.
According to Yahoo Sports.