Maxx Crosby traded to Ravens
The Las Vegas Raiders have traded All-Pro defensive end Maxx Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens for two 1st round picks.
Wow, it happened!
Crosby has been the source of trade talks for a couple seasons, as any great player on a bad team is subjected to.
At the end of the season, it appeared the Raiders shut him down early, and Crosby made a show of it by leaving the facility and posting video of him appearing healthy on social media. In the end, Crosby needed surgery in the offseason. But this seemed to indicate the end of his tenure in Las Vegas.
The Baltimore Ravens' last edge rusher to have more than 10 sacks in a single season was Kyle Van Noy in 2023. Before that, it was Terrell Suggs in 2017.
The Ravens have given up pick 14 in this years draft, as well as their 1st rounder in 2027, per Adam Schefter.
What are the implications of this trade that need to be discussed?
The obvious perspectives are the Raiders embracing a full rebuild as they likely bring in their franchise QB this season, and the Ravens being extra aggressive as their franchise QB, Lamar Jackson, will be 30 by the end of the 2026 season.
Let's start in Baltimore.
The Ravens are acquiring a 5x Pro Bowler and a 2x second team All-Pro who has 69.5 sacks in 7 seasons. Despite needing a cleanup surgery this offseason, Maxx Crosby has been ridiculously durable and reliable on the field.
The 28 year old has missed just 7 career games (all over the past two seasons). He's also played 96% of defensive snaps over the last four seasons. And 88% for his entire career. That's a ridiculous amount of snaps.
To put it in perspective, the highest percentage of snaps Myles Garrett has played in a single season is 86%. Crosby averages more than that in his entire career. He's an ironman who never leaves the field.
But how does Crosby fit in Baltimore, as I doubt he plays this many snaps for the Ravens.
Their current EDGE depth looks as such:
2025 2nd rounder Mike Green
Pending FA Kyle Van Noy
Pending FA David Ojabo
2023 4th rounder Tavius Robinson
Pending FA Dre'Mont Jones
They need lots of help, and Crosby likely won't be the last addition.
Crosby has more help on his interior, with NT Travis Jones and IDL Nnamdi Madubuike returning for 2026. That's an elite group if they can find another productive player.
When discussing Crosby's fit in Baltimore, it's more about scheme than the depth chart.
The Ravens hired Jesse Minter to be their new head coach this offseason.
Minter's NFL experience started in Baltimore under John Harbaugh and DC Wink Martindale, before becoming the DC at the University of Michigan. Minter then followed Jim Harbaugh to the Los Angeles Chargers to be their defensive coordinator, where he called a top 10 defense for two straight season.
To put it simply, Minter runs a 3-4 defense. Meaning the EDGE rushers typically are standing, not with their hands in the dirt, like Maxx Crosby has done for 7 seasons.
Now, Minter is a smart guy. He will not be dropping Crosby into coverage, and will design the defense to conform for whatever works best for their best defensive lineman. Crosby should have no problem adjusting, especially with his elite motor.
While the Ravens lost a top pick, which could have afforded them a top 3 WR in this class, or one of the top offensive linemen, they have acquired one of the best defenders in the NFL. A great toy for Jesse Minter to play with, along with All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton.
Crosby signed a 3 year, $106.5M extension last offseason. The Ravens are now over the $301M salary cap for the 2026 season, but there are a handful of simple solutions, including signing Lamar Jackson to an extension, which would save around $40m. Moving off of long-time Raven Marlon Humphrey is also a possibility.
Now, what does this massive trade mean for the Las Vegas Raiders?
You are the worst team in the NFL. You fired and replaced your entire coaching staff. You just released your QB, who you traded for and extended last offseason. You had a bottom 5 defense this past season. And now you have just traded your best player, who has been with you for 7 seasons.
Now what?
Free agency opens in less than a week. The Raiders will now have $121M in cap space after the trade, closer to $130M after the release of Geno Smith becomes official. Insane. The priority should be to support your future #1 overall pick QB.
You now have the luxury to overspend, or rather outbid, to get who you want. Don't go rogue and spend it all in one offseason, but you may be able to find a few core players who can give good contributions over the next 3-4 seasons.
It will be impossible to replace Maxx Crosby, probably at all, but definitely through free agency. Players of that caliber are hard enough to find, let alone one who plays that many snaps at such a valuable and yet blue-collared position.
But the main way you turn this ship around after a trade like this is the draft. You have 11 total picks, three in the top 36.
The first one is undoubtedly QB Fernando Mendoza. I would be floored if it was not. In free agency and the draft, surround him with an upgraded offensive line and receivers. Both will be available through FA and at the newly acquired Pick 14, as well as Pick 36.
The real impact of the Crosby trade for the Raiders is now having to rebuild the defense, which was already awful. Crosby was the only thing holding it back from being the worst in the NFL.
You cannot replace him, or fix the defense, in one offseason. This offseason for Las Vegas was already meant to acquire your franchise QB and fix the offense with your new HC Klint Kubiak. The Raiders should keep this mindset, and slowly build the defense up around the edges, making smart moves. Don't overpay to be good on 9% of your defense this offseason. Maybe an opportunity will present itself next offseason, when you again have two 1st round picks, whether in a trade, free agency, or the draft.
The Raiders have gone full rebuild with this trade, but the path is already clear.
Who won the trade? Does this make Baltimore Super Bowl contenders? All questions that will be answered in due time.
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