Raiders trade Maxx Crosby to Ravens: Six big questions

let’s just say max crosby Knows how to make a lasting impact.

As a defensive end for las vegas raidersCrosby went to Baltimore in September 2024 and wreaked havoc there An upset win by 26-23 against Baltimore Ravens. He finished with six tackles, four tackles for loss and two sacks, including one where he looped through the middle and flattened the quarterback. lamar jackson On his back.

The Ravens wanted to bring that ferocious pass rush to Baltimore so badly that they acquired Crosby from the Raiders in exchange for first-round picks in 2026 and 2027, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Friday night.

The 28-year-old Crosby is a five-time Pro Bowler and would be a game-changer for the Ravens. His 69.5 career sacks since 2019 are more than double the production of anyone in Baltimore over that span (defensive tackle) Nnamdi Madubuike Leads the Ravens with 30 sacks since 2019.

At the NFL Combine, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta made it clear that upgrading at edge rusher was a priority for Baltimore this offseason.

“When we look at the best defense, we see a tremendous pass rush, and that was lacking this year for different reasons,” DeCosta said in February. “It’s something we feel strongly that we can attack in the offseason this year.”

Now, with Crosby out, the Ravens are relying on their defense to be in attack mode.

Ravens reporter Jamison Hensley, Raiders reporter Ryan McFadden, national reporter Daniel Graziano and NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller answer important questions about why the Raiders traded Crosby – and how the Ravens could benefit from taking the veteran pass rusher. — Hensley

How did it come to this?

Crosby has been the heart and soul of the Raiders organization since he was drafted with the No. 106 pick in 2019. But his relationship with the Raiders had soured. His consistent on-field production and loyalty to the organization has rarely been rewarded. Sure, the Raiders gave him a record deal last offseason. But Crosby has been eager to play meaningful games in the postseason, and Las Vegas has failed to do so.

He has only made one playoff appearance (in 2021) since being drafted, and was drafted in the first round. The Raiders had five losing seasons, five head coaches and four general managers during that span. But the 2025 season was the turning point. Las Vegas finished with a 3–14 record, and first-year coach Pete Carroll was fired in the offseason. organization also decided to seat crosby For the final two weeks of the season, he became frustrated.

For now, the Raiders appear to be headed in the right direction with a new coach Clint Kubiak and is expected to be the top pick in April’s draft, a quarterback Fernando MendozaOn the way. Still, Las Vegas is in rebuilding mode and has a lot of work to do before it can be considered a playoff contender. With Crosby turning 29 in August, this was the Raiders’ best chance to acquire a significant trade package for the All-Pro edge rusher. –McFadden

How can the Raiders replace him on defense?

The Raiders can’t really replace Crosby. He is one of the best defensive players in the NFL, posting double-digit rushing yards in three of the last four seasons. However, they have the draft capital to accelerate their rebuild.

With the No. 14 pick in this draft, Las Vegas will have an opportunity to fill a glaring need on offense such as wide receiver or guard. But if the Raiders decide to go with the defensive option, they could lean toward taking the Miami edge rusher Achim Messidor or Clemson defensive tackle peter woods.

By moving on from Crosby, the Raiders will save $30.69 million in salary cap space, allowing them to be even more aggressive in free agency to fill a roster with multiple deficiencies. Las Vegas could target Eagles edge rusher jalen phillipsWho has achieved a total of 28 sacks in five seasons. –McFadden

How will Crosby fit with the Ravens?

Crosby is a perfect fit for Baltimore. There is a saying that permeates the entire facility: “Play like a Raven”, meaning to demonstrate passion, high motor and love of the game. This describes the mentality of Crosby, who plays all over the field and rarely takes a break. He has played over 94% of the Raiders’ defensive snaps in four consecutive seasons.

By making such a big commitment to Crosby in giving up two first-round picks, the Ravens believe he will not only mesh with the defense but also lead it. It’s been years since Baltimore has made such an investment in an edge rusher. The Ravens have recently tried to bolster their pass rush by adding aging players justin houston, Jadeveon Clowney And kyle van noy. But Baltimore believed it needed to make a big splash this offseason after totaling 30 sacks last season, third-fewest in the NFL and second-fewest in franchise history. — Hensley

Does this make the Ravens a real contender in 2026?

The Ravens are counting on this because Crosby can help fix one of their biggest flaws – finishing games. Over the past five seasons, Baltimore has allowed an NFL-worst 16 leads in the final five minutes of a game, five more than any other team. Last season, the Ravens failed to blow two double-digit leads in the fourth quarter, which is a big reason why they went from being a preseason Super Bowl favorite to making it into the postseason.

The Ravens were at their best defensively when playmakers like Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and Terrell Suggs closed out games. Crosby has a track record of leading late in games. His 22.5 sacks in the fourth quarter are tied for fourth-most in the NFL since 2019. Over the past seven seasons, he has also recorded a league-best 17 tackles for loss in the final five minutes of a game.

established leaders in baltimore kyle hamilton in secondary and roquan smith between. But the Ravens lacked someone to come off the edge and take over. Last season, Baltimore did not have an edge rusher who produced more than 4.5 sacks. That will likely change with Crosby, who had four sacks in the fourth quarter alone last year. — hensley

What can the Raiders do with the extra 2026 first-round pick they acquire from the Ravens?

With pick No. 14, the Raiders are in a position to add help to one of several weak spots on the roster. The natural inclination would be to draft a wide receiver to pair with Mendoza, who is expected to be taken at No. 1 by the Raiders. of arizona state jordan tyson The type of big-bodied winner with 50-50 dice who will be a good value in the middle of Round 1. Or the Raiders could reunite Mendoza with a former Indiana teammate, receiver Omar Cooper Jr.., which is increasing.

Other needs include cornerbacks and linebackers — and now edge rushers. At No. 14, general manager Jon Spitek should have starter-level options at all of those positions. –Miller

Crosby was signed to a record three-year, $106.5 million contract extension last March. What are the cap implications for the Raiders and Ravens?

Because the Raiders avoid signing bonuses to avoid dead money, trading Crosby doesn’t cost them much in terms of cap cost. They will take just over $5 million in dead money as a result of the small amount of bonus ratio left in the deal, meaning they will save approximately $25.7 million against this year’s cap after trading him.

Meanwhile, the Ravens will pick up Crosby’s $30 million salary for 2026 and his $29 million salary for 2027. His cap number for Baltimore this season should be $30.695 million. –Graziano