Raiders Trade Crosby to Ravens
The Las Vegas Raiders have traded star pass rusher Maxx Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens in a blockbuster move that has major implications for both teams. ESPN analysts are raising six key questions about the trade's impact on the Raiders' defense and the Ravens' Super Bowl hopes. The deal will also affect both franchises' approaches to upcoming free agency and the draft.
In a stunning move, the Baltimore Ravens sent their 2026 and 2027 first-round draft picks to the Las Vegas Raiders for defensive end Maxx Crosby. This is a significant departure from Baltimore's traditional draft-and-develop strategy, as the franchise had never before traded a future first-round pick for a player. Crosby, a five-time Pro Bowler, provides an immediate and substantial boost to a Ravens defense that struggled to pressure opposing quarterbacks last season, finishing tied for 28th in the NFL with only 30 sacks. The 28-year-old pass rusher recorded 10 sacks and a career-high 28 tackles for loss in the previous season alone. The trade concludes a period of apparent friction between Crosby and the Raiders' front office. The team placed him on injured reserve for the final two games of the previous season, a decision that reportedly led to his frustration and departure from the team facility. Despite public statements from the Raiders' general manager expecting Crosby to remain with the team, the offer from Baltimore proved too compelling to refuse. Crosby is in the midst of a three-year, $106.5 million contract extension he signed in March 2025, which at the time made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league. His contract includes significant guaranteed money and will carry a salary cap hit of over $30 million for the 2026 season. For the Raiders, this trade signals a full-scale rebuild under their new head coach and general manager. Acquiring two first-round picks gives them significant assets to address multiple roster holes, including the quarterback position, as they are expected to select a quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming draft. The Dallas Cowboys were also reportedly interested in acquiring Crosby but were unwilling to part with two first-round picks. The move to Baltimore reunites Crosby with new Ravens head coach Jesse Minter, who previously served as the defensive coordinator for the division-rival Los Angeles Chargers and had to game plan against Crosby multiple times.
