Ravens Land Maxx Crosby in Massive Trade With Raiders
The Baltimore Ravens made one of the biggest moves of the NFL offseason Friday.
Baltimore reportedly acquired star defensive end Maxx Crosby from the Las Vegas Raiders in a blockbuster trade, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
In exchange, the Ravens will send first-round picks in 2026 and 2027 to Las Vegas. The trade cannot officially be processed until next week.
Ravens Add Elite Pass Rusher
The deal gives Baltimore the kind of dominant edge rusher the franchise has rarely possessed during the era of quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Crosby arrives as one of the NFL’s most disruptive defensive players. The five-time Pro Bowler has recorded at least 10 sacks in four different seasons and has consistently ranked among the league’s leaders in quarterback pressures.
Baltimore will have Crosby under contract for the next four seasons, with a projected cap hit of $35.8 million in 2026.
The move represents a rare aggressive swing for a franchise historically known for roster stability rather than splashy blockbuster deals.
A Major Shift for Baltimore’s Offseason
The trade comes during a transitional offseason for the Ravens.
Following the departure of longtime head coach John Harbaugh, Baltimore hired former Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter as the team’s new head coach. The organization is attempting to rebound from a disappointing 2025 season while reshaping its roster.
Adding Crosby gives Minter a centerpiece defender capable of anchoring the pass rush immediately.
However, the financial commitment and draft capital involved could impact Baltimore’s ability to retain other key players, including center Tyler Linderbaum and tight end Isaiah Likely.
Raiders Move On From Franchise Star
For Las Vegas, the trade marks the end of an era.
Crosby spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Raiders after being selected in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Eastern Michigan. During that span, he developed into the face of the defense and one of the league’s premier edge rushers.
The Raiders signed Crosby to a three-year extension worth $106.5 million last year, which briefly made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL.
Despite public support from team leadership earlier this offseason, speculation about Crosby’s future grew after the Raiders placed him on injured reserve late last season.
The move reportedly created tension between Crosby and the organization.
Crosby Previously Addressed Trade Rumors
Amid the speculation earlier this offseason, Crosby acknowledged the outside noise surrounding his future.
“People are gonna have rumors,” Crosby said on the Let’s Go! podcast in February. “I just looked at my phone, I’ve been working all morning. Everyone’s hitting me up, ‘Did you say this?’ I can’t control that. You earn that as a player.”
“If you have drama, if you have a losing season, they just try to throw gasoline on the fire and make things a certain way,” Crosby added. “And, for me, I know what I’m about, I know what I represent. I really don’t care what everybody has to say.”
He later added: “I know my truth.”
What the Trade Means Going Forward
For Baltimore, the acquisition signals an aggressive push toward contention.
Crosby’s relentless motor and elite pass-rushing production could dramatically elevate the Ravens’ defensive front.
For the Raiders, the move signals a shift toward future assets as the franchise looks to reshape its roster through upcoming drafts.
Either way, the deal instantly becomes one of the defining moves of the NFL offseason.