Gone too soon: A Vikings player is dead when

This offseason is going to be critical for the Minnesota Vikings in a bevy of ways, most notably at quarterback with Kirk Cousins hitting free agency. But they will also have to address a defense that stands to lose its top three pass rushers.

All three of Marcus Davenport, Danielle Hunter, and DJ Wonnum are all free agents, with the 29-year-old Hunter’s departure looming the largest following a 15.5-sack campaign.

This is where Las Vegas Raiders star EDGE Maxx Crosby could potentially enter the picture.

“The Las Vegas Raiders … continue to weigh a potential pursuit of [Jim] Harbaugh,” wrote Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network on January 13.

“However, sources say there remains support among many in the extended Raiders family for interim coach Antonio Pierce — including in the locker room, with All-Pro edge rusher Maxx Crosby expressing he will explore a trade request if Pierce isn’t retained, according to sources

Pierce interviewed with the Tennessee Titans on January 13, per Pelissero. But he remains in play for Vegas.

Faced with the prospect of losing Pierce to another team this offseason as he and the Raiders weigh their respective options, Crosby alluded to the possibility he could request a trade.

“I’m going have to consider everything. Honestly, nothing’s off the table,” Crosby said on “The Rush with Maxx Crosby” on January 13. “I made it loud and clear that I want to be a Raider for life. I want to be here, I want to win here, I want to retire here. But if you go and start from scratch again, I got to consider everything. I mean everything.

“I want to be a Raider, for sure. But if we go in a different direction, then there’s nothing that’s off the table.”