Maxx

Crosby

In a lengthy breakdown about how the trade failed to come to fruition, the Ravens ultimately weren’t concerned about Crosby’s 2026 season, but about his “durability after a couple of seasons.” Crosby has said that he’s a “Raider for life” since on his own podcast, but Fowler notes that teams continue to check on Crosby’s availability, that the asking price remains high, and that teams are reluctant to meet it. It is possible that “a window of opportunity opens closer to the draft,” so we’re probably not out of the Crosby trade rumor blurb business just yet.

Crosby said the world will “get the best version of 98" in 2026 after the Ravens failed him on his physical just days after agreeing to a trade with the Raiders. The star pass-rusher recently declared himself “a Raider” on social media, suggesting he’s hoping to remain with the team this upcoming season, and it’s been reported that the asking price for Crosby hasn’t changed despite the Ravens reneging on the deal. Crosby suffered a knee injury last season that he played through, but he still underwent offseason surgery to repair a torn meniscus. One of the true Iron Men of the league, Crosby is no doubt motivated to prove the Ravens made the wrong move in sending him back to Vegas. He’ll have a sizable chip on his shoulder and a lot to prove if he is ready for training camp.

Prior reports indicated that Crosby was unwilling to play for the Raiders ever again. He has seemingly changed his mind, telling Raiders fans, “I’m back.” Crosby was nearly traded to the Ravens in exchange for two first-round picks, but the Ravens withdrew from the deal yesterday, citing a failed physical. Earlier today, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported that the Raiders’ asking price for Crosby had not changed. Trading away Crosby for draft picks makes sense for a team that is ostensibly beginning a rebuild. Whether the Raiders’ front office has changed its mind about jettisoning him remains unknown. But Crosby, for his part, appears ready to don the Silver and Black once again.

He added that the team started contract talks with Hendrickson after the team lost center Tyler Linderbaum in free agency. For those out of the loop: Baltimore agreed to trade two first-round picks for Crosby earlier this week, only to back out of the deal at the last minute, citing a failed physical. They then inked Hendrickson to a four-year deal just over 12 hours later. Multiple reports have suggested NFL staffers around the league found the series of moves detestable. Given that Crosby underwent offseason meniscus surgery, DeCosta does have a reasonable alibi for calling off the trade. Now Baltimore will move forward with Hendrickson and their full allotment of first-round selections over the next two drafts.

For now, the Raiders are standing strong on their demand for multiple first rounders for any team interested in taking the perpetually disgruntled Crosby, 28, off their hands after the Ravens backed out of a trade for Crosby on Tuesday. Russini said Wednesday that Crosby’s short-term health prospects are “positive” while concern remains about the long-term outlook for his injured knee. Crosby is reportedly rehabbing in the Raiders facility today as he awaits word on where the Raiders will deal him ahead of the 2026 season.

The Ravens “believed the risk was too high given the compensation it was giving up” and therefore backed out of a deal that would have sent Crosby from the Raiders to Baltimore. ESPN’s Adam Schefter said Tuesday night that “several” teams have already reached out to the Raiders about Crosby, one of the league’s premiere pass rushers, who has 32 sacks over the past three seasons in Vegas. Crosby has said he would refuse to suit up for the Raiders, meaning this saga is likely to drag on for weeks, if not months, ahead of the 2026 regular season. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer said the Raiders are not “going to trade Crosby on a discount” this offseason.

This comes on the heels of the Ravens backing out of their blockbuster move to acquire Crosby from Vegas. Reports shortly after the news broke confirmed that the Ravens nixed the deal because of a failed physical. Crosby played through a knee injury during the 2025 season and was eventually shut down by the Raiders, though they did so against the star player’s will. He underwent surgery for a torn meniscus after the season. It’s anyone’s guess as to how healthy Crosby truly is, given that his agent is far from an unbiased source in the matter. As expected, ESPN’s Adam Schefter quickly chimed in, saying “several” teams have already reached out to the Raiders about Crosby. He surprisingly added that the Raiders are currently preparing for Crosby to play for them this year, though we find that highly unlikely. Even though the Raiders are set to get less in return for him now, we still expect them to find a trade partner for the disgruntled defender.

The team’s official X account made the announcement late Tuesday evening without providing any amplifying remarks. To say this is the biggest news of the second day of legal tampering is quite the understatement, with the previously agreed to deal involving two first round picks in 2026 and 2027 set to become official in under 24 hours once the new league year officially kicked off. Although no indication was made as to why the Ravens backed out of the trade, the likeliest culprit would appear to be something involving Crosby’s physical. He played through a knee issue last year until the Raiders shut him down near the end of the season, seemingly against his will. Whatever the case may be, the Raiders made it evident that it was Baltimore that nullified the trade. Even more interesting is the fact that Trey Hendrickson is reportedly set to make a decision on where he is playing tomorrow, with “multiple offers on the table.” The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported the reason to be a failed physical, something that has yet to be confirmed. Stay tuned.

It isn’t quite the “Parsons-like trade package,” but it isn’t too far off. Years of being a good solider while playing for one of the league’s more embattled franchises landed Crosby with a perennial contender in the Ravens in exchange for two first round picks in the next two drafts. Crosby, 28, will now join newly minted head coach and defensive guru Jesse Minter in Baltimore, joining a defense that ranked 18th in points allowed and 24th in yards allowed. The Ravens will immediately benefit from adding one of the league’s top Iron Men to the league in Crosby, who has played in 15 or more games in six of his seven seasons in the league, while playing on 900-plus defensive snaps in five of those seasons. Crosby totaled 10 sacks and 28 TFLs for the Raiders last season while also forcing two fumbles and breaking up another six passes. The Cowboys, who reportedly offered a first and second-round pick for Crosby’s services narrowly missed out on landing the star pass-rusher, and will likely look to address the Micah Parsons-sized hole on their defense in free agency in the coming days.

It was reported on Thursday that the Cowboys “thought they were close” to landing Crosby before other teams came out of the woodwork. That said, the Cowboys, who are curiously interested in a star pass rusher, have not been completely deterred from their efforts to land Crosby. Rumors of multiple first-round picks being offered for Crosby suggest the Raiders could get close to what they hoped for when it was reported they wanted a “Parsons-like trade package” in exchange for his services. Russini also reports the Ravens are “a team to watch” as trade negotiations continue to unfold, while adding the belief is that the Raiders “are willing to work on a deal” to trade the five-time Pro Bowler.