Sources: Raiders to trade Maxx Crosby to Ravens for two 1sts
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — In the most important trade in franchise historical past, the Baltimore Ravens are buying five-time Pro Bowl defensive finish Maxx Crosby from the Las Vegas Raiders for first-round picks in 2026 and 2027, sources advised ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Friday night time.
The deal is contingent on Crosby passing a bodily, which might’t happen till the beginning of the brand new league yr Wednesday.
This marks the primary time within the Ravens’ 31-year existence that they’ve used a first-round choose to trade for a veteran participant. Baltimore had the No. 14 choose on this yr’s draft.
Among the groups the Ravens beat out for Crosby have been the Dallas Cowboyswho have been prepared to provide a first- and a second-round choose for the star move rusher, sources advised Schefter.
Crosby, 28, considerably upgrades a struggling Ravens move rush that in 2025 totaled 30 sacks, Baltimore’s fewest in 15 years. Last season was additionally the primary time for the reason that Ravens’ inaugural 1996 marketing campaign that they did not have an edge rusher with greater than 4.5 sacks.
The Ravens are making this uncharacteristic offseason splash after a disappointing 2025 season by which they completed 8-9, failed to make the playoffs and fired longtime coach John Harbaugh. Baltimore has been wanting for a sport changer, equivalent to Crosby, to recover from the postseason hurdle and attain the Super Bowl for the primary time for the reason that 2012 season.
The addition of Crosby provides the Ravens their most embellished and feared move rusher of their prime since Terrell Suggs, the franchise’s all-time sacks chief who performed in Baltimore from 2003 to 2018. Crosby has produced 4 double-digit sack seasons in his seven-year profession. Over that span, the Ravens have had two edge rushers with 10 or extra sacks in a season: Kyle Van Noy (12.5 in 2024) and Odafe Oweh (10 in 2024).
This is a large addition for new Ravens coach Jesse Minter, who will name performs on protection. Since coming into the NFL in 2019, Crosby has 360 quarterback pressures, which is 29 greater than the next-closest participant, in accordance to ESPN Research.
The Ravens have been reluctant to surrender coveted draft capital due to their philosophy of constructing via the draft. Before Baltimore landed Crosby, the very best draft choose he had given up was a second-rounder for center linebacker Roquan Smith in November 2022.
There have been solely three drafts the place the Ravens didn’t have their unique first-round choose: 2004, 2010 and 2012. In every occasion, the Ravens have been both shifting again into the primary spherical (2003 for quarterback Kyle Boller) or falling again later within the draft to purchase extra picks (2010, 2012).
The Raiders had made it recognized that they needed to preserve Crosby. Owner Mark Davis, basic supervisor John Spytek and new coach Klint Kubiak stated final month that they anticipated Crosby remaining with the membership in 2026.
But the connection between the edges had run its course.
Since the Raiders chosen Crosby within the fourth spherical of the 2019 NFL draft, he has been among the best defensive gamers within the NFL. However, his manufacturing and loyalty towards the crew have been not often rewarded. Crosby made the postseason solely eleven, a loss within the 2021 season, whereas enduring 5 shedding seasons, 5 head coaches and 4 basic managers.
Las Vegas had 9 gamers begin a sport at quarterback throughout that span.
The Raiders’ 2025 season, one of many worst in franchise historical past, appeared to be the tipping level.
The membership confronted excessive expectations that it might lastly flip issues round and have a successful tradition instilled by Pete Carroll. Las Vegas gave Crosby a three-year, $106.5 million contract extension final March, making him one of many highest-paid non-quarterbacks in NFL historical past with the hope that he may assist kick off a brand new period in Las Vegas.
Instead, the Raiders completed 3-14 — the fifth time in franchise historical past that they’ve had three or fewer wins. Starting quarterback Gene Smith underperformed, throwing a league-high 17 interceptions. (Sources advised Schefter earlier Friday that the crew plans to release the quarterbackbarring a trade, earlier than the beginning of the brand new league yr.) The Raiders fired offensive coordinator Chip Kelly and particular groups coordinator Tom McMahon midseason.
Through all of it, Crosby nonetheless performed at a excessive stage and remained a robust chief within the locker room, ending with 10 sacks.
But Crosby’s future got here into query after the Raiders shut him down for the ultimate two weeks of the season due to a knee harm he suffered in October. Crosby was annoyed by the choice.
After the Raiders shut down Crosby, they secured the highest choose within the draft and Carroll was fired.
The hiring of Kubiak signaled the Raiders have been trending towards a real rebuild. Although they’ve intriguing younger gamers, equivalent to operating again Ashton Jeantytight finish Brock Bowers and Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza Likely on the best way by way of the No. 1 choose, the Raiders have a ton of labor to do earlier than being thought-about playoff contenders.
That timeline did not match Crosby, who’s hungry to play significant video games in January and February.
“When we’re not winning, it’s like, what are you the face of?” Crosby stated final yr. “I want to be the face of winning, and that’s truly all that matters to me.”
ESPN’s Ryan McFadden contributed to this report.
