December 5th, 2021, Week 13, Raiders vs. Washington Football Team (Joe Glorioso/All-Pro Sports)
On the night of March 10, 2026, the Las Vegas Raiders posted the following statement on X: “The Baltimore Ravens have backed out of our trade agreement for Maxx Crosby. We will have no comment at this time.”
In a shocking turn of events, the Baltimore Ravens backed out of the Maxx Crosby trade with the Las Vegas Raiders. The trade would have sent the Raiders two first-round picks, and given the Ravens five-time Pro Bowler and two-time Second Team All-Pro edge rusher Maxx Crosby.
This came as a shock as fans, media, and Maxx Crosby himself thought he was going to Baltimore. The Maxx Crosby sweepstakes included many franchises scouring through their resources to try and create trade packages to obtain the star edge rusher.
We were later informed that it was the result of a failed physical earlier that day. However, it had been common knowledge that Crosby had undergone surgery for a torn meniscus. So, why trade for him knowing the risks of recovery?
Most were skeptical of the reasoning, believing that the Ravens general manager, Eric DeCosta, had “cold feet”. Now, we must answer the bigger question surrounding this ordeal:
How will the canceled trade affect the two teams individually? First, let’s analyze both teams thoroughly.
Photo Credit: December 21, 2025, Week 16, Ravens vs. Patriots (Mitch Stringer/Imagn Images)
For the Baltimore Ravens, since the “legal tampering” period, they have lost 7+ free agents, including various key pieces such as center Tyler Linderbaum, tight-end Isaiah Likely, full-back Patrick Ricard, and many valuable pieces.
Then, on the morning of March 11, 2026, the Baltimore Ravens acquired All-Pro edge rusher Trey Hendrickson through free agency, handing him a four-year, $112 million contract, with a max value of $120 million.
Prior to the signing, Hendrickson spent the past four years with the Cincinnati Bengals, where he made a name for himself, becoming one of the premier edge rushers in the league.
The signing came less than 13 hours after the Maxx Crosby trade fell out. This created even more suspicion around the league, as fans speculated that the Ravens had entered talks surrounding Hendrickson, realizing they could acquire him on a cheaper deal than Crosby.
Now, instead of giving up two first-round picks and taking on Crosby’s salary, they could keep their draft picks and sign Hendrickson to a much cheaper deal. This decision could drastically impact the Ravens’ success in 2026.
Prior to 2025, the Ravens had been quite successful during the regular season, but disappointing in the playoffs.
In eight total playoff games, the Ravens are 3-5, making the AFC Conference Championship once in 2023 and losing to the Kansas City Chiefs. They’ve gone 1-3 in the Divisional round, and 2-1 in the Wild Card round. As it currently stands, the Baltimore Ravens haven’t made a Super Bowl in the Lamar Jackson era.
The Ravens are a team headed in a win-now direction, as they must capitalize on the prime years of Lamar Jackson. Every year they don’t make the Super Bowl, it is another opportunity missed.
Now, aside from the Super Bowl expectations in Baltimore, let’s review the current situation in Las Vegas.
Photo Credit: September 7, 2025, Week 1, Raiders vs. Patriots (Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)
In 2025, the Raiders went 3-14 under head coach Pete Carroll. They ranked 32nd in total offense, and were ranked 14th in total defense last season. Even with promising young talents such as tight end Brock Bowers and rookie running back Ashton Jeanty, they still underachieved heavily.
After this disastrous season, the Raiders fired head coach Pete Carroll, and hired Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, who won Super Bowl LX with the team.
His offensive system was a huge factor in Seattle’s success. Through his “run-first” philosophy, he was able to beat teams on the ground, and open up passing lanes allowing quarterback Sam Darnold to make plays.
With a dynamic receiving core highlighted by the 2025 Receiving Yards leader Jaxson Smith-Njigba, a powerful running back duo in Kenneth Walker lll and Zach Charbonnet, and a strong offensive line, his offensive system worked flawlessly.
Returning to the Raiders’ offseason, they traded for cornerback Taron Johnson from the Buffalo Bills, giving up a sixth-round pick in this year’s draft.
Then in free agency, the Raiders signed players such as linebacker Nakobe Dean to a three-year, $36 million deal, linebacker Quay Walker to a three-year, $40 million deal, center Tyler Linderbaum to a three-year, $81 million deal, and more.
So, how does this failed trade impact both teams?
Photo Credit: January 28, 2024, AFC Championship Game, Ravens vs. Chiefs (Alex Brandon/Associated Press)
For the Ravens, they must be able to obtain talent through free agency and fill the voids left by their ex-players. They’ve already had a good start signing Trey Hendrickson, but this team needs more.
Furthermore, they must take advantage of the draft, and get players who can make an immediate impact on this team. With the 14th pick in the draft, they have the opportunity to draft a potential day-one starter, someone who can come in and make plays.
Maxx Crosby could have been the missing piece this team needed, but now he’s gone. His defensive impact would have transformed this Ravens defense, but due to injury we’ll never know.
There is pressure rising in Baltimore, as they know that time is ticking. They must be able to compete with the rising competition in the AFC, as teams are only getting better.
For the Raiders, it can provide some much-needed help on both offense and defense.
For the offense, acquiring Linderbaum was a remarkable addition to this Raiders squad. His elite run-blocking and athleticism has made him one of the best interior linemen in the NFL. Since being drafted in 2022, he has made three Pro Bowls in his first four seasons in the NFL.
With his arrival in Las Vegas, his skill-set can greatly improve this current Raiders offensive line. His contributions can also greatly benefit sophomore running back Ashton Jeanty, who can thrive in the backfield with the improved run-blocking.
For the defense, with Maxx Crosby returning, it provides a significant upgrade to their defense. They have the potential to become one of the NFL’s best units in 2026.
Photo Credit: October 9, 2023, Week 5, Raiders Vs Green Bay Packers (John Locher/Associated Press)
Along with the acquisitions, the Las Vegas Raiders hold the number one overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. They are projected to select 2026 Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, a quarterback out of Indiana, who just led the Hoosiers to a 16-0 season, winning the 2026 College Football Championship vs. Miami.
It’s an immediate upgrade at the quarterback position, if the Raiders draft him. In 2025, starting quarterback Geno Smith led the league in interceptions with 17.
While I don’t believe that these acquisitions make them “elite”, it can definitely elevate them to a 6+ win team, or even potential playoff contenders, especially if they have a good draft.
Ultimately, the surprising fallout of this Ravens-Raiders trade is something that the NFL rarely sees. One franchise has been on the cusp of football immortality, while the other franchise has been searching for its first playoff win in more than two decades.
Now, how will these scenarios play out for these teams? Will the Las Vegas Raiders fall short of expectations once again or will the Baltimore Ravens live to regret their decision? We’ll have to wait until the start of the 2026 season for those questions to be answered.
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