The Las Vegas Raiders announced that the Baltimore Ravens have backed out of a trade that was set to send star pass rusher Maxx Crosby to Baltimore in exchange for two first-round draft picks. The deal was initially agreed upon last Friday but could not be finalized until the official start of the NFL league year on Wednesday. However, the Raiders revealed on Tuesday that Baltimore had withdrawn from the agreement and declined to provide further comments.
According to multiple reports, the trade fell through after Crosby failed to pass his physical. Crosby had undergone surgery in January to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee and needed to clear the physical exam to complete the trade. He missed the final two games of last season due to the injury, despite his desire to play through the pain at the time. On a recent appearance on “The Herd with Colin Cowherd,” Crosby stated that he was “ahead of schedule” in his rehabilitation.
Baltimore viewed the addition of Crosby as a key piece to help push the Ravens over the top. Meanwhile, the Raiders intended to use the acquired draft picks as part of their rebuilding strategy. Crosby, 28, had an impressive 2023 season, recording 10 sacks and a career-high 28 tackles for loss. Over his seven seasons, he has achieved double-digit sacks in four of them.
The Ravens, led by first-year coach Jesse Minter and three-time All-Pro quarterback Lamar Jackson, are currently in a win-now mode. Crosby’s presence would have significantly bolstered a defense that ranked tied for 28th in the league with only 30 sacks last season.
The Raiders hold the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming draft and are widely expected to select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Las Vegas has also been active at the start of free agency, securing several new players and agreeing to trade quarterback Geno Smith to the New York Jets. These moves were reported by multiple sources familiar with the negotiations who requested anonymity since deals cannot be finalized prior to Wednesday.
Perhaps the Raiders’ biggest acquisition so far is three-time Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum. Linderbaum agreed to a three-year, $81 million contract with $60 million guaranteed, leaving Baltimore to join Las Vegas and provide a strong presence on the offensive line.
As the offseason progresses, the Raiders continue to reshape their roster with an eye toward both immediate success and long-term growth.
https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2026-03-10/maxx-crosby-trade-crumbles-raiders-say-ravens-backed-out-of-agreement
