One of the biggest stories of the NFL offseason has been the future of Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby. After months of speculation, the Raiders agreed to a trade that would send him to the Baltimore Ravens for two first-round picks.
Crosby came out and had an emotional goodbye to the Raiders and the fan base. Ravens players reacted to the deal, so while it wasn’t officially done, it looked like the star defensive end was headed to Baltimore.
Well, perhaps it’s time for trades to stop getting leaked before they can be made official. The Raiders released a statement on Tuesday revealing that the Ravens are no longer trading for Crosby.
“The Baltimore Ravens have backed out of our trade agreement for Maxx Crosby. We will have no further comment at this time,” the Raiders said.
To say that this is a stunning turn of events is an understatement. Crosby was already in Baltimore and likely planning out his new life. The Raiders have been massive spenders in free agency and had to be making plans for how they’d use the No. 14 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. This throws a massive curveball at the plans for both the Ravens and the Raiders.
Why Did the Trade Fall Through?
This is such a rare thing to happen that it will likely affect the relationship between the Raiders and Ravens for years to come. Pulling out of such a big trade in the middle of free agency puts the Raiders in a very difficult position.
However, it sounds like the Ravens saw something they didn’t like in the physical, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini. It’s no secret that Crosby finished the season on the Injured Reserve and had to get surgery to repair his knee this offseason.
He wasn’t fully healthy, but the Ravens knew that when they dealt for him. It’s possible that his injury issues are a bigger red flag than initially realized. It’s difficult to know where either team goes from here.
What Do the Raiders Do Now?
This whole situation opens up a can of worms for the Raiders. Not only do they not get those two first-round picks, but they may have to keep Crosby now. Teams around the NFL might now be concerned about trading him due to the failed physical.
The Raiders just agreed to terms on a three-year, $48 million contract with defensive end Kwity Paye. Do they have to rescind that offer now? Do the Ravens now convince Tyler Linderbaum to come back now that they’ll have more money?
This is a total disaster for the Raiders. The good news is that perhaps they just decide to keep Crosby and continue to get All-Pro production from him. That’s not an ideal situation after it became clear that he requested a trade. There are so many factors the Raiders have to weigh now. This is far from an ideal situation for second-year general manager John Spytek to be in. How he handles it could be pivotal for the franchise going forward.
Why Did the Ravens Back out of Trade for Raiders DE Maxx Crosby?