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What’s next for Maxx Crosby? Raiders star’s future uncertain after trade to Ravens falls apart at 11th hour originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
What was a blockbuster move for the Baltimore Ravens is no longer. In a stunning reversal on Tuesday evening, the Las Vegas Raiders announced that the trade sending All-Pro edge rusher Maxx Crosby to Baltimore has been called off.
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The deal, which originally involved the Ravens sending their 2026 and 2027 first-round picks to Las Vegas, reportedly crumbled due to an unspecified medical reason. While Crosby had already shared a heartfelt farewell to “Raider Nation” on social media, he reportedly failed his physical with the Ravens as he continues to recover from offseason knee surgery.
The collapse of the trade leaves both franchises in a state of flux just hours before the 2026 league year becomes official. For Crosby, the future is uncertain with Las Vegas in a full-out rebuild and the star edge rusher wanting to go to a contender.
Here’s what’s next for Crosby after the Ravens move fell through.
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What’s next for Maxx Crosby?
Crosby has been rehabilitating from left knee surgery performed in early January, and while the Raiders’ medical staff originally cleared him, the Ravens’ evaluation flagged significant concerns regarding his recovery timeline
After already posting a 12-minute farewell video to “Raider Nation” and expressing his excitement to chase a Super Bowl with Lamar Jackson, Crosby now returns to a locker room where he had reportedly expressed “frustration” after being shut down late in the 2025 season.
The Raiders released a pointed statement on Tuesday evening, explicitly noting that the Ravens “backed out” of the agreement. While they retain their defensive centerpiece, the relationship between Crosby and the front office appears fractured, especially after the team allegedly pursued the deal against Crosby’s initial wishes to stay.
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Crosby remains under contract with the Raiders through 2029, but with the trade market now aware of Baltimore’s medical red flags, his path to a contender likely becomes much more complicated.
MORE: Why did Ravens back out of Maxx Crosby trade?
Teams that could trade for Maxx Crosby
Crosby has made it clear that he wants to go to a contender. With the Baltimore trade officially off the table due to medical concerns, several teams that were priced out by the Ravens’ two-first-round-pick offer could re-enter the sweepstakes — provided their medical staffs are more comfortable with his knee recovery.
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Here are some possible landing spots to watch as the 2026 league year begins:
Dallas Cowboys
Jerry Jones was reportedly the Ravens’ stiffest competition, offering a first- and second-round pick (including the No. 12 overall selection). After trading Micah Parsons to Green Bay last year, the Cowboys are desperate for a defensive cornerstone and have roughly $20 million in cap space to make a deal work.
Philadelphia Eagles
Howie Roseman was widely reported to be in the sweepstakes for Crosby. With Jaelan Phillips signing with the Carolina Panthers in free agency and the Eagles’ edge depth thin, Philly could use its aggressive contract restructuring to fit Crosby’s $30.7 million cap hit into their 2026 books.
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Chicago Bears
Armed with over $70 million in cap space, the Bears have a massive need for a pass rusher to pair with Montez Sweat. The defending NFC North champions have the draft capital and the financial flexibility to take on Crosby’s contract without blinking.
Detroit Lions
Before the Ravens swoop, Detroit was frequently linked to Crosby. Given their current Super Bowl window and the need to bolster a pass rush that struggled for consistency in 2025, a homecoming for the Michigan native remains a popular theory among league insiders.
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Could the Raiders keep Maxx Crosby?
While the Raiders could keep Crosby since he is under contract through 2029, a reunion is currently the most unlikely scenario. The situation in Las Vegas has shifted from a professional partnership to a fractured relationship that might be beyond repair.
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Multiple reports, including insights from The Athletic and NFL Network, indicate that Crosby was “disgruntled” before the trade was even agreed upon. After being shut down for the final two games of 2025 — a move Crosby reportedly fought against — the star edge rusher has already posted a 13-minute farewell video to the fans. Returning to the locker room after a public goodbye and a failed trade is a psychological hurdle few teams successfully navigate.
General Manager John Spytek has clearly shifted the Raiders into an “all-out rebuild” mode. The Raiders are currently positioned to take Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick, and Las Vegas is looking to stack more picks.
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Why did the Ravens back out of the Maxx Crosby trade?
The Baltimore Ravens backed out of the trade for Maxx Crosby primarily because he failed his physical examination.
While the trade had been agreed upon late Friday, it could not be finalized until the start of the 2026 league year (Wednesday, March 11). Crosby traveled to Baltimore over the weekend to undergo standard medical testing, which flagged significant concerns regarding his recovery from an offseason meniscus repair.
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While Crosby publicly stated he was “ahead of schedule” in his rehab, the Ravens’ medical staff was reportedly uncomfortable with the findings. Given the unprecedented price tag of two first-round picks, the Ravens’ front office decided the risk of a lingering injury was too high.
