The Baltimore Ravens appeared to pull off one of the biggest moves of the 2026 NFL offseason when they agreed to acquire star pass rusher Maxx Crosby from the Las Vegas Raiders. The reported deal would have sent Baltimore’s 2026 and 2027 first-round picks to Las Vegas in exchange for one of the league’s most productive defensive players. However, in a stunning turn of events, the trade was abruptly canceled after Crosby failed his physical with the Ravens.
The Raiders confirmed the collapse of the deal Tuesday in a brief statement: “The Baltimore Ravens have backed out of our trade agreement for Maxx Crosby. We will have no further comment at this time.” Shortly afterward, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported that Crosby did not pass his physical in Baltimore, which automatically voided the trade and returned both first-round picks to the Ravens.
The failed physical reportedly stems from lingering knee concerns related to a torn meniscus Crosby suffered in Week 3 of the 2025 season. The injury forced the Raiders to shut him down late in the year to focus on recovery, a decision Crosby reportedly disagreed with at the time. He later underwent offseason knee surgery, and that recovery process may have raised enough concern during Baltimore’s evaluation for the Ravens to walk away from the deal.
For Baltimore, the move would have been a major investment in an elite pass rusher. Crosby has been one of the NFL’s most disruptive defensive players since entering the league as a fourth-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. According to Pro Football Reference, Crosby has played in 110 career games with 104 starts and has totaled 69.5 sacks, the sixth-most in the league since his rookie season. He also leads the NFL during that span with 133 tackles for loss, highlighting his ability to consistently disrupt opposing offenses.
In addition to his pass-rushing production, Crosby has recorded 439 total tackles, 29 passes defended, 11 forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries across seven seasons with the Raiders. His dominance has earned him five Pro Bowl selections and two Second-Team All-Pro honors, establishing him as one of the league’s premier edge defenders.
The trade initially made sense for both teams. The Ravens were aggressively trying to upgrade their pass rush after several defensive departures in free agency, while the Raiders appeared willing to move their star defender as part of a broader roster reset. Crosby, who will turn 29 before the 2026 season, had reportedly grown frustrated with Las Vegas’ ongoing rebuild after playing under six head coaches and five general managers during his career.
Now, both teams must pivot. The Ravens retain their two first-round picks but are left searching for help on the edge, with players like Trey Hendrickson potentially becoming targets as free agency unfolds. Meanwhile, the Raiders still have Crosby under contract, though trade speculation could continue with teams such as the Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, and Dallas Cowboys possibly emerging as suitors.
For now, one of the NFL’s most shocking offseason moves has officially fallen apart, leaving the league wondering whether another Crosby trade attempt could still materialize later this offseason.
