Ravens Go All-In for Crosby
The Baltimore Ravens acquired star pass rusher Maxx Crosby from Las Vegas for two first-round picks, described as "pushing chips into the middle of the table" to maximize their championship window with Lamar Jackson. Crosby becomes the Ravens' best edge rusher since Terrell Suggs (2018), joining a defensive core including Roquan Smith, Kyle Hamilton, and Marlon Humphrey. The trade signals Baltimore's departure from their traditionally conservative approach to bold win-now moves.
Maxx Crosby brings elite production to Baltimore's defense, having recorded 14.5 sacks and a league-leading 23 tackles for loss in his 2023 campaign with the Raiders. Over the last six seasons, he is one of only two NFL players to register at least seven sacks each year. The acquisition required a significant financial commitment on top of the draft picks. Crosby carries a 2026 cap hit of $30.6 million as part of a three-year, $106.5 million contract he signed with Las Vegas. The move puts the Ravens over the 2026 salary cap, necessitating further roster adjustments. Before accounting for Crosby's contract, Baltimore had an estimated $10-12 million in cap space. Crosby joins a defense stacked with highly-paid talent locked into long-term deals. This includes linebacker Roquan Smith (5-year, $100M), safety Kyle Hamilton (4-year, $100.4M), and cornerback Marlon Humphrey (5-year, $97.5M). The draft capital sent to Las Vegas consists of the Ravens' first-round picks in both the 2026 and 2027 NFL drafts. This is the first time in franchise history that the Ravens have traded a future first-round pick for a player. For comparison, in Terrell Suggs' final season with the Ravens in 2018, he recorded 7 sacks and 32 total tackles across 16 games.
