Maxx Crosby has found a new home. The All-Pro edge rusher is being traded from the Las Vegas Raiders to the Baltimore Ravens per multiple reports. The Ravens will send back two first-round picks to the Raiders in exchange for the five-time Pro Bowl defensive end.
The Raiders will now hold the No. 1 and No. 14 picks in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. They will also receive a first-round pick in next year’s draft as part of the trade.
It marks the first time in franchise history Baltimore will use a first-round pick as part of a trade. The Ravens have been in existence for 31 years. The price could be well worth it for Baltimore under new head coach Jesse Minter.
The former Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator is making the move to lead the Ravens in his first head coaching role. He is replacing John Harbaugh who was fired after 18 seasons at the helm in Baltimore. The team missed the playoffs for the first time since 2021 leading to the move to replace Harbaugh.
Minter previously coached with the Ravens and last year guided Los Angeles to being a top-five defense. The Chargers finished 10th in sacks in 2025. Baltimore was tied with Arizona and Carolina for the third-fewest sacks in the NFL last season.
Crosby, who still has four years left on his contract, should help provide an immediate upgrade to the Baltimore defense.
Move To Send Maxx Crosby To Baltimore Not Surprising
There have been plenty of rumors since late in the season that Crosby would be on the move this offseason. His name gained plenty of buzz following the decision by Las Vegas to place him on injured reserve late in the season.
A meniscus injury that required surgery ultimately led the Raiders to make the move, which was met with frustration from Crosby. The star edge rusher posted a video of himself playing basketball after the decision was made to place him on injured reserve. Plus, there were reports of Crosby leaving the team facility upon finding out about the move late in the season.
He suffered the injury in October but played through it before being placed on IR with two games left.
The trade cannot go through until next week when the league year begins, but there were reportedly several teams interested in adding Crosby. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Friday that the Dallas Cowboys were willing to part ways with the No. 12 overall pick to land the Las Vegas star. However, Dallas was only reportedly willing to send a second-round pick for 2027 as part of its proposed trade.
Crosby, who will be 29 at the start of the 2026 season, still managed to play at high level despite his knee injury. He finished the 2025 campaign with 73 tackles, 28 that went for a loss, plus 10 sacks (a top-15 mark). It earned Crosby his fifth Pro Bowl nod.
He has compiled 69.5 sacks, 133 tackles and 431 QB pressures in his career.
Crosby Will Help Baltimore Reignite Its Identity
Baltimore’s offense has received plenty of attention behind star quarterback Lamar Jackson in recent years. Yet, the defense is what shined throughout the franchise’s most successful seasons. Crosby will give Minter and the team a clear star on that side of the ball to balance out what the team is able to accomplish with Jackson on offense.
The Ravens quarterback apparently hinted at the deal earlier in the day Friday with a post on X, formerly Twitter.
Maxx Crosby has played in 110 games throughout his seven seasons in the NFL, which have all been spent with the Raiders. He was selected in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft after a successful career at Eastern Michigan.
Las Vegas continues to retool its roster and franchise amid change. Seattle offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak was hired to take over as head coach in Las Vegas following a 3-win season in 2025. That left the Raiders with the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming draft. It is believed the team will use the selection to take Heisman Trophy winner and Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
The team is expected to release QB Geno Smith next week though is likely to sign a veteran as well.
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